MAB New Economy Plus Cabin on All Existing 15 A333, 6 A380 and 6 A359

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Has there been a U-turn for the Super Economy Class cabin on the 15 A333?

 

Enhancements start for Malaysia Airlines

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3, 2015:

The much-vaunted enhancements to Malaysia Airlines to woo back passengers and seek profitability will start with new A330-300 business class seats to be introduced in April next year.

These new seats, unveiled at the World Travel Market in London, will be in all 15 A330-300 aircraft by September, the national carrier said in a statement today.

Each Malaysia Airlines A330-300 aircraft has 27 business class seats and 263 economy class seats.

“The business class seat pitch, which measures at 43 inches with a width of 20.6 inches and length of 76 inches (fully flat), is one of the best received business class seats in the industry.

“The seats come with increased working space with 90% of all seats having direct aisle access due to the 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 seat layout, with extra stowage space for personal items,” said group chief executive officer Christoph Mueller.

“This product will make us more competitive against other full-service carriers and is part of the airline’s push to be more customer centric, offering new, personalised and innovative products.”

Mueller had earlier said Malaysia Airlines needed to have modern amenities like fully flat beds in business class to keep up with fierce competition, especially with Middle East carriers.

Source: http://www.therakyatpost.com/business/2015/11/03/enhancements-start-for-malaysia-airlines/

No details of Premium Economy for now....Currently A330-300 has 247 Y class, 263 in new config. A gain of 16 seats.

Maybe 2-4-2 two rows will be the Premium Economy.....too far fetched?

 

 

 

probably only regular economy, which is already 2-4-2. Mueller is being quoted as saying it's J27Y263, not J27W16Y247 after all.

 

crucially though - going forward, having a Y+ product is SOMETIMES bad news. Every airline that has introduced it - usually tweaks the frequent flyer program to suit, usually blocking a direct upgrade path between Regular economy and Business. Also, think about how MHupgrade would work if there was such a "super economy"? It's not always good news.

 

[DaTan 0]

BALI, Indonesia: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) could introduce a premium economy option to attract long-haul business travellers as one part of a broader strategy to try to help it exit years of losses, its chief executive said in an interview on Friday.

 

The airline, which introduced a new business class seat last week, will make a decision in "a couple of months", Chief Executive Christoph Mueller told Reuters, speaking on the sidelines of an industry event in Bali.

 

"We are very happy with business class demand, and this gives us the opportunity to increase the revenue per passenger in the economy class. The target passenger is in economy class, and you don't want to cannibalize the business class," said Mueller.

 

The airline is seeking recovery after suffering huge damage to its brand after flight MH370, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared in March last year. In July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, and all 298 aboard were killed.

 

Mueller, an experienced industry executive, was hired to push through restructuring at MAS in May after Malaysian national investment firm Khazanah took it private late last year as part of a 6 billion ringgit ($1.37 billion) programme that also cut the airline's workforce by a third.

 

"We have to prove every quarter that we are on track, and only against the delivery of certain targets is the funding provided," said Mueller, referring to progress in his efforts to turn the company around.

 

Introducing premium economy seats - usually wider and with more leg room than in economy class - would allow MAS to compete more effectively for business passengers against its rivals. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways began offering a premium economy option in 2012, and Singapore Airlines from this year.

 

Airlines like SIA also offer priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling.

 

All MAS aircraft currently operate in a two-class configuration - business and economy - except for its Airbus jumbo A380s, which also have a first class option. MAS considered premium economy for the A380s in 2012, but decided against it in favour of additional economy class seats.

 

The fate of the airline's A380s remains uncertain. The airline has unsuccessfully tried to sell two of the four-engined jets, and industry sources say it could also try to offload the other four in the coming years as it reworks its fleet plans.

 

Mueller said that while it is too early to talk about retiring the A380s, he would "never say never" to the option. - Reuters

[flee 5]

It would make sense for MAB to offer premium economy class because many executives are no longer allowed to travel in business class due to cost cutting. As such, a slight reduction in business and normal economy class seats should be able to accommodate the premium economy seats and improve overall yields.

[KK Lee 5]

It would make sense for MAB to offer premium economy class because many executives are no longer allowed to travel in business class due to cost cutting. As such, a slight reduction in business and normal economy class seats should be able to accommodate the premium economy seats and improve overall yields.

 

During economic recession, MNC tend to cut expenses include travel in J-class. Believe most MNC (except O&G) are no longer under cost cutting pressure at executives level.

 

Local GLC are MH ardent pax, reducing executives perks is not in their dictionary and MoF is unlikely to issue directive to downgrade from J-class. Not many if any of GLC executives will travel in premium Y class.

 

Believe it is better for MH to upgrade J-class product offering to attract MNC pax.

[Azman MN 1]

 

During economic recession, MNC tend to cut expenses include travel in J-class. Believe most MNC (except O&G) are no longer under cost cutting pressure at executives level.

 

Local GLC are MH ardent pax, reducing executives perks is not in their dictionary and MoF is unlikely to issue directive to downgrade from J-class. Not many if any of GLC executives will travel in premium Y class.

 

Believe it is better for MH to upgrade J-class product offering to attract MNC pax.

 

Agree - big budget cuts happened after sept 11 and then during credit crisis and now there is not much pressure anymore to cut costs - its gone far enough already. Key consideration should be to have better all around J class product, including flight frequency.

[flee 5]

Believe it is better for MH to upgrade J-class product offering to attract MNC pax.

Yes, that decision has already been made and a separate thread to discuss it is here:

http://www.malaysianwings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=20542

 

With more and more airlines fitting premium economy seats in their aircraft, and with pax very happy with them, MAB should seriously consider this too in order to improve their yields.

[jani 0]

MH to add "Economy Plus" on A380 (not Premium Economy) to be located at back of upper deck. Will maintain 2-4-2 arrangement but probably less than the current 9 rows.

 

http://www.ausbt.com.au/malaysia-airlines-airbus-a380s-to-get-economy-plus-seating

[Mohd. Helmi 0]

http://www.ausbt.com.au/malaysia-airlines-airbus-a380s-to-get-economy-plus-seating

 

Looks like they are going to get economy plus seatings

[jani 0]

Why my post suddenly here?

[leon t 0]

and Mueller is said to be putting in Economy Plus setas in the upper deck of its A380s.

[Cire 0]

I wondered if MAS is going to consider fitting the new premium economy seats? Thinner and more comfortable sitting than the ordinary coach seats.

[BC Tam 2]

I see the seats behind have somehow changed colour

It looks like they ripped the outer fabric for cleaning or replacement.

Probably this is where the "Super Economy" section will be and they need to redo that space and seats as well ?

[Mushrif A 3]

If there is going be to be a super economy in the refurb A330, it would be in the two rows ahead of door 2, right after biz class. i.e. In that empty space vacated by the old biz seats and beginning from where the wall panels have been removed, as per the photo.

[BC Tam 2]

If there is going be to be a super economy in the refurb A330, it would be in the two rows ahead of door 2, .....

Well yes, silly me !

Quite unlikely for them to convert like half the Y cabin to "Super Economy"

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

The Super Economy/Premium Economy cabin on all A333 is CONFIRMED!

Latest Update from MH hangar

 

#Pic 4 - EY Premium ( 2 - 4 - 2) total 16 seats

The only mystery now is how the seat looks like.

[Craig 0]

leather seat for Biz class.. and normal seat for EY Premium

With 2-4-2 for PEY, I assume it's something like UA Economy Plus or AA Main Cabin Extra (not a separate class/cabin like SQ/CX/BA)? Let's hope OWEs get first dibs on those seats .

[Mushrif A 3]

The economy plus (not premium evonomy) seats will likely be very similar to normal Y seats, just a bit more legroom.

[Kenneth Chong WT 0]

Only 2 rows of PE? How nice if they have more! Hopefully I get to try this new configuration!

[jani 0]

Yeah, especially as it's 2-4-2. Anyway I remember Mueller saying they will simply market it as Economy Plus, and not Premium Economy.

[Izanee 0]

Missed opportunity for MAB. This will probably be like KLM's economy comfort where you get extra legroom for slightly higher prices

[Mr.Bandit 0]

So, the seating configuration is going to be 27J, 16Y+, 247Y made up total of 290 seats.

[DaTan 0]

Personally I am a bit let down that it will not be a true Premium Economy like in SQ, CX, BA

 

I would certainly try it if it went ahead.

[nrazmoor 0]

No coverage for the Economy plus seat..??

[Suzanne Goh 0]

No coverage for the Economy plus seat..??

Got. Sabar ya.

[nrazmoor 0]

Got. Sabar ya.

:D