Fashni M.

Add to that, I like the seating arrangement in the MH KUL J lounge Satellite. It provides plenty of those clusters of 4/6 individual seats that are close enough for families/couples to sit together yet far enough for 4/6 individuals to sit comfortably. This caters well for all the pax mix the airline carries. Many other lounges in the world that I have visited (QR J/F DOH (premium terminal), GF BAH, EK J DXB, WY J MCT, BA J/F LHR) have more of those clusters of sofa sets which makes it almost impossible for strangers to sit comfortably in close quarters. And more often than not, they are always used to put jackets, small luggage, etc. a real waste of space. These lounges feel full even at 70% occupancy because people are always standing and waiting for someone seated to get up and go. And talk about the evil eye you get when politely asking if the seat with the jacket or small luggage is taken...

Since they are well and truly into code sharing with their OneWorld parners, perhaps we will one day just have to fly to BKK/SIN and get onto a BA/QF flight to LHR/OZ. Also use CX/HKG, JL/NRT as a stepping stone to East Asia/USA, QR/DOH for Europe/Africa.

I'm sure things would have been different if the A380 was delivered on schedule back then. The CPT-EZE route can only be done by 4 engined aircraft (until very recently); due to ETOPS restrictions on twins. That said, the recent approval for 330 mins ETOPS for the B777 was a simple case of 'too little, too late' for MH to decide if they can/should finally send the B777 all the way to EZE. The trouble with this route is that its too costly to operate. The better CASM of the A380 vs. B744 would have made this route a success. Airline operations & route structures has to be seen as a whole. The EZE route was very popular with those from mainland China. With this route being cut, there will be less pax flying MH into KUL from PVG, CAN, PEK, etc. Some routes are required to sustain other routes. Hence why this route has been on the network all these years. Its somewhat like cutting or reducing LHR-KUL-Oz. Pax will flock to other carriers which offer better connectivity. So in the end you will lose more traffic and the route network will shrink further in the near future.

Its all about MTOW. For the A332 to do KUL-Europe it must carry virtually no cargo at all. The 772 can do it while carrying valuable cargo for the same mission. So at the end of the day, the 772 will generate more revenue.

And many seem to forget that planes don't only carry pax, they carry cargo too!! These are crucial to any airlines operations and bottom line. The pax deck may be empty but no one realises that the belly may be full. MH did very well on their MEX tag from LAX some time back. Pax loads on this sector were sometimes 'poor' but the cargo carried year-round made this sector very profitable. Hence why their freedom was revoked The sectors of KUL-JNB/CPT-EZE are well within the range of the 744. So they can load the belly to the brim. The Combi (743/744) used on this route previously, sure made them a profit. In this case profit, definately comes before prestige

While it is not officially mentioned, there is a possibility that the A380 will be deployed to EZE. It was reported sometime last year that the CPT-EZE sector would cost more using the B777 due to ETOPS as compared to the gas-guzzling B744. The B777 would have to fly a longer route to reach EZE from CPT, hence the added cost of the flight. Unless MH decides keeps a very small number of B744 in their fleet for this purpose, the A380 is the only 4-engined aircraft (in their future fleet) that is capable for executing that mission at a much lesser cost.

Finally someone that see's the bigger picture.

MH Roll Royce powered 777 Business Class: 62.0" pitch 18.5"width 35 Lie-flat seats MH B777 C-Class seat pitch is 75"

Hence the reason they're keeping their A380 orders I suppose... Well, it's more that I like comments like yours & jani's, as they contain more substance than just plain bashing/empty talk. A similar topic is now being discussed over at A.net and the comments are far more critical. BTW, love all your TR's in A.net.

Finally, someone with some sense on the subject matter...

So unfortunate. A very clear downside to KPI's.

My point exactly. BTW, KUL - MAN flights were often filled by M, B, Q & L (booking) class passengers, i.e. students studying there & their parents visiting them yearly/bi-annually.... No doubt bought at the MATTA Fair. Hence the 140% break even point. Mind you, KUL - EZE sees many Enrich members burning 100 - 180K points to fly there just to see what the fuss is all about... Bless them. This is the exact effect BA felt when they operated the terminator service to KUL all those years back. Not only that, it was also filled with airline staff using their ID90 for their vacation in Malaysia/SEA. At the end of the day, with the current fuel prices, older planes are less efficient than current/future generation aircraft. Something MH has yet to decide for their WB aircraft replacement. Routes that are expensive/unprofitable today may actually turn a profit with newer more efficient aircraft. Dare I say it, if EZE is somehow still in the route map come 2011, I would not pe surprised if the A380 is deployed all the way there. Unless of course they order capable Twins that can do the route. Route cuts are very easy to execute. But it will be more expensive in the long run to re-open the route (if that ever happens). It's ironic that many here hope that KUL will be a major hub in SEA yet wants MH to have minimal international routes. It just doesn't gel.

From what I can gather, it's all about frequency. Who would ever fly you if you only had 3 flights a week? Compare that to some that fly 2-3 times daily to the USA (some non-stop even). Mind you, when they operated the 744 on EWR-ARN, MH was the only airline to offer F class on that route. Other options would be a 2-class 757 on CO or 2-class 330/343 on SK. If this was made into daily flights, premium passengers would definately flll-up the front of the aircraft. Leaving the low yeilding Scandinavian tourists to fill the rear. During summer, Scandinavians find it hard to get seats to go to their much loved Exotic Thailand - despite additional frequency by TG and the odd charter. Surely MH could have figured this out and fill their planes on a daily basis. It's a known fact that many airlines have voiced this same concern. I remember the CEO of GF some years back saying that the BAH-LHR was losing money as they only flew there 5 times a week. But when they increased it to daily, their fortunes change. EZE is actually 50/50. 2 flights a week, come on. Yes cost of operating the route is phenominal. They can't use the more efficent 772 for ETOPS limitations. So the only capable aircraft is the (now gas guzzling) 744. This drives the cost up. I don't know if many of you are aware but MH has in the past made some packages to Antarctica through EZE during the summer months!! Now if they only marketed it properly EZE would really make money. Cosidering the strong ties between China & South America added frequency to EZE would, I am sure, generate more income. Just my dua sen....