MAS to speed up replacing Boeing 747, 777 with Airbus A380, A330

Malaysia Airlines is to speed up cutting older Boeing 777 and 747 planes from its fleet and standardising on the Airbus A380 and A330 jets for its longer flights.

Expect the 747s to be gone as early as November, with the 777s disappearing within three years. That's pretty good news for business travellers, since Malaysia Airlines' newer planes have more comfortable business class seats and better entertainment systems -- and they're quieter too.

MAS, like many airlines, is retiring its older jets early because they guzzle more gas than newer planes. With Australia a key part of the airline's network, flights between capital cities and Kuala Lumpur see the larger Boeings when demand is high.

But many Australian routes also see those newer A330 jets (which debuted last year), and the A380 will start on the Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route from November 26.

The airline also confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that "Melbourne is being actively considered" for the next Airbus A380 superjumbo route from Kuala Lumpur.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.