Malaysia Airlines confirms Melbourne as first A330neo destination and reveals new cabin products

Malaysia Airlines has confirmed it will be deploy its new Airbus A330neo aircraft to Melbourne from November, as it prepares to take delivery of the first example. Managing director of the airline’s parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) Izham Ismail says the carrier also expects to operate the type to North Asia, Australia and New Zealand, as well as South Asia. Malaysia Airlines expects to take delivery of three A330neos this year, from a total commitment for 20 examples to replace its existing fleet of A330ceos. Izham, speaking in Kuala Lumpur on 22 March, also revealed the cabin products for the aircraft. Malaysia Airlines has selected Collins Aerospace and Recaro as the seat suppliers. The A330neos will be configured with 297 seats – 28 in business class and 269 in economy class. In business class, the airline will be first in the world to install Collins’s Elevation suites on an A330neo. The business-class seats – currently found on larger widebodies like the A350 and Boeing 777 – will feature privacy doors and direct-aisle access, a departure from Malaysia Airlines’ current staggered business-class product. <br/>