Malaysia Airlines will be introducing a new business class product later this year, and the airline has just unveiled the first renderings of the seat and cabin. Let’s go over all the details.
In this post:
Malaysia Airlines’ new business class for A330neos
Malaysia Airlines has 20 Airbus A330-900neos on order, which the airline will use to refresh its long haul fleet, and replace existing Airbus A330s. The oneworld airline is expected to take delivery of its first of these jets in Q3 2024, and the intent is for four of these planes to join the carrier’s fleet by the end of 2024.
This represents a bit of a delay compared to the initial timeline, as Malaysia Airlines was supposed to take delivery of its first A330-900neo in late 2023 (though these kinds of delays have become the norm in the industry).
Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330-900neos will feature 297 seats, including 28 business class seats and 269 economy class seats (and of those, 24 will feature extra legroom).
In business class, Malaysia Airlines plans to introduce reverse herringbone seats with doors. Specifically, the airline has selected the Collins Aerospace Elevation product, which is essentially a rebranding of the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond product. This is the same product you’ll find in British Airways’ Club Suites, as well as in Etihad’s A350 business class. As you can see, the cabin looks nice, though the finishes seem quite generic.
I’d consider this product to compare quite favorably to Malaysia’s existing A330 business class, consisting of staggered seats. The catch is that the A330neo’s fuselage isn’t as wide as that of the 777 or A350, so the reverse herringbone seats may feel pretty tight. Malaysia Airlines will be the first airline to install these seats on the A330-900neo.
Malaysia Airlines’ planned A350 product refresh
Long term, Malaysia Airlines has six Airbus A350-900s in its fleet, which the carrier uses for its flagship route to London Heathrow (LHR), and more. Malaysia also plans to refresh its product on these planes, with the same reverse herringbone seats you’ll find on A330neos.
Malaysia currently has staggered business class seats on its A350s (similar to what you’ll find on the A330s), so this new product should represent a significant upgrade.
Malaysia’s A350s also has a row of premium business class seats at the front of the plane. These used to be marketed as first class, but were then rebranded as the Business Suite. Not surprisingly, when these planes are reconfigured, the plan is to eliminate this product.
As of now, Malaysia intends to reconfigure these jets starting in 2026. Personally I’d assume these plans remain highly subject to change, because retrofitting existing aircraft definitely becomes less of a priority if there’s any sort of an economy downturn, or anything. Malaysia Airlines isn’t exactly an airline that has historically had a stable strategy. But those seem to be the plans as of now…
Note that in addition to the six permanent A350-900s that Malaysia Airlines has, the airline has an extra one of these jets that’s leased, which used to fly for Scandinavian Airlines. This plane has a different product, and to my knowledge, there are no plans to reconfigure it.
Bottom line
Malaysia Airlines will soon be refreshing its long haul fleet, with 20 new A330neos, and the first jet will be delivered in Q3 2024. The airline has now revealed the first pictures of its new seats, which will be the Collins Aerospace Elevation seats with doors, similar to what you’ll find on British Airways and Etihad.
This is an excellent business class product, so I’m looking forward to seeing these in service. However, on the A330, these will probably feel pretty tight. The airline also intends to eventually reconfigure existing A350s with these cabins, but we’ll see if those plans stick.
What do you make of Malaysia’s new A330neo business class plans?
I thought Malaysia Airlines was going to start focusing on short-medium haul routes, why are the 737s the most neglected part of the fleet?
I think Garuda/Malaysia have started to just give up on the long haul market and just let Singapore yoink all the long haul traffic into South-East Asia, which is disappointing but at least invest in the 737s that are the backbone of your fleets!
Good Flight experience flying from DPS,Bali to KUL last month. awful cramped seating in AIR ASIA. yuck!
But will they spray insecticide on me as we approach KUL? That's the classiest part of my previous MH experience.
Did they spray only on YOU?
I flew on BA with this seat and I didn't find it comfortable at all when flat, it felt really cramped.
The finishes look sterile with a lot of white going on. It would've been nice to have some Malay inspired motifs on the bulkheads and on the exterior shell of the seat.
IF they do eliminate the former First class or Business Suite seats, I wonder if they will maintain the Platinum lounge at KLIA or rebrand it.
Cheers!
The cabin finishes feel like a mix of AC and BA.
So the plan is to upgrade the seats on low margin routes ASAP and then start to upgrade the seat on their flagship routes from 2026 at the earliest? Makes perfect sense, like almost everything MH does...
BA will also be resuming direct flights to KUL later this year which will put pressure on yields.
Their yields will definitely drop, but BA will use their 787-9 with the old club world on this route so the seats MH currently have are still better than what BA will use.