Malaysia Airlines will begin flying its new Airbus A350 fleet to London in the second quarter of 2018, with the advanced fuel-efficient jets replacing the Airbus A380 superjumbos.
The airline expects the first of six leased A350s to arrive at the end of this year, and is likely to roster the debutante jet onto selected regional and Asia-Pacific routes in the first few months of 2018.
The A350s will sport a small first class cabin of four suites, which are expected to be based on the Vantage XL seat from Ireland's Thompson Aero Seating...
... ahead of business class, which will use the Vantage business class seats of the airline's Airbus A330s (shown below).
The A380 superjumbos which currently ply the KL-London skies will be stripped back to an "ultra-high capacity" configuration (read: almost entirely economy class) and, in the third quarter of 2018, handed over to Malaysia Airlines' new offshoot aimed at serving the bustling Muslim market for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.
In presenting a quarterly update on Malaysia Airlines' journey back to profitability, CEO Peter Bellew also flagged a replacement for the Airbus A330-300 fleet, with both the Airbus A330neo and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in the frame "for possible delivery in 2018 and 2019".
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
13 Jul 2015
Total posts 274
4 First Class Seats? That's going to be mighty private!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
Shame, the MH A380 service was often the cheapest way over to LHR from Sydney. The 350 is a fine craft in its own right though and assuming prices are competitive will be a great way over to LHR
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 438
They are insane for installing an F class on an A350. They won't sell it.
29 Mar 2014
Total posts 78
It's their business class product with doors. Not insane. It steers into the skid of an industry-wide trend we're seeing: the real differentiator with first isn't the seat anymore: it's the service.
25 Feb 2017
Total posts 25
They are not Intended to be sold they will be for Government VIPs, The various Malaysian Heads of State [ Each State in Malaysian has its own Sultan/King/Prince] Plus of course the Senior Airline people. Including whoever is the CEO running the airline into the ground at the time.
British Airways - Executive Club
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 47
On the contrary, there are many Datuks and Datins who will pay to sit in First. Money no object, kind of people.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Mar 2014
Total posts 132
this is perfect first class! it should be like this on all A350s and 787s...at a minimum...
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