Malaysia Airlines has this week become the eighth airline to launch scheduled air services with the Airbus A380 and used the occasion to reveal further operational plans for the type. On July 1, 2012 the Asian flag carrier introduced the Superjumbo on the Kuala Lumpur – London Heathrow route, significantly increasing its own capacity between the two cities.
In the past year the airline flew around 154,000 O&D passengers on the route, around 63 per cent of the total O&D demand. The airline’s A380 has a capacity of 494 seats, comprising of 350 Economy and eight fully-flat First Class seats on the main (lower) deck, and 66 fully-flat Business Class and 70 Economy seats on the upper deck, and the larger capacity afforded by the A380 is likely to stimulate this market still further during the current calendar year.
The entry into service date has a special relevance to Malaysia Airlines as it marked exactly 38 years after the carrier launched air services between Kuala Lumpur and London on July 1, 1974. To celebrate the occurrence a special event to mark the departure of the inaugural flight at Kuala Lumpur International Airport was attended by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Minister of Transport Y.B. Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha, along with invited dignitaries from various government agencies.
Speaking at the launch event, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Group CEO, Malaysia Airlines said: “This is a proud moment for the entire nation and we at Malaysia Airlines are glad to be part of this historic moment which positions Malaysia in the league of the A380 operators. Such an advancement is our contribution towards the efforts by all to steer Malaysia towards developed nation status by 2020. This is also in line with the government’s desire to increase capacity for heightened tourist arrivals into the country.”
The A380 is the first aircraft to wear the new Malaysia Airlines livery, part of a refreshed brand campaign which commenced in March 2012. The objective is to position the airline as a preferred premium carrier. “The A380 is our latest flagship aircraft offering new levels of comfort, luxury and convenience for long-haul travel and we look forward to delivering our great Malaysian Hospitality to our UK guests,” added Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.
Malaysia Airlines is the only airline to offer a non-stop service between the UK and Malaysia, currently flying 14 times a week between London Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur International, with immediate onward connections to South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The new A380 service will initially serve the route with a thrice-weekly non-stop service increasing to a daily service from the end of August 2012 following the delivery of a second A380.
The airline has six A380s on order – four will be delivered this year and the last two in 2013. Executives have confirmed that the additional deliveries will enable the type to be introduced on the Kuala Lumpur – Sydney route from November, while Tokyo Narita and Beijing are also ear-marked as possible destinations for later aircraft.
Related Content
