Malaysia Airlines’ previous premium seat decisions — namely the staggered 1-2-2, 1-2-1 configuration in standard business on its Airbus A350s — saw the Kuala Lumpur-based carrier eclipsed by all-direct-aisle access layouts. But as it readies to take delivery of its first Airbus A330-900 twinjets in the third quarter, Malaysia Airlines has clearly gotten the proverbial memo, and acted on it.
The Oneworld Alliance member has selected Collins Aerospace’s Elevation doored mini-suite with direct aisle access for the 28-seat business class cabin aboard its two-class, 297-seat A330neo aircraft. The suites will be configured in a passenger-pleasing 1-2-1 layout. It has also tapped Recaro Aircraft Seating’s award-winning CL3810 platform for the 269-seat economy class cabin; 24 of these seats will boast extra legroom.
Both Collins Elevation and Recaro CL3810 are successors to popular seating products, and according to Malaysia Airlines, a cluster of its A350s will be retrofitted to ensure consistency.
Bringing a mockup of the new A330neo interior to the recent MATTA Fair 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Airlines revealed that the Elevation suites feature individual privacy doors, wireless charging pods, 17.3″ IFE screens, and multiple storage options.
Wireless charging in business class is certainly having a moment. Image: Malaysia Airlines
Collins’ Super Diamond herringbone seat was one of the hallmark products of the 2010s. Elevation, meanwhile, is a honed version of the hardware, and is already seen in the wild as part of British Airways’ Club Suite, for instance. A further evolution of the product, called Elements, is flying on Starlux Airlines’ A350s.
But Malaysia Airlines is excited to, in its own words, “pioneer” the Elevation seats on the A330neo fleet, noting that it is set to become the world’s leading carrier to feature Elevation on this airframe type. And it points out that: “with an all-aisle access layout, the seats ensure a comfortable and fully flat experience, incorporating luxury design influences and optimal styling flexibility.”
Direct aisle access seats for all occupants in business class. Image: Malaysia Airlines
Airbus last week revealed the new Malaysia Airlines A330neo interior in a post on LinkedIn, where it noted that: “Passengers flying on the aircraft will get to enjoy a new flight experience thanks to the premium Airspace Cabin features, paired with the superior cabin comfort and the latest inflight entertainment and connectivity available on the aircraft.”
But what about down back? Airbus’ video and indeed some of Malaysia Airlines’ renderings of the A330neo cabin seem to show a bog standard headrest for economy class. Thankfully, a closer look at the carrier’s own video of the mockup reveals telltale stitching where the headrest wings can be adjusted (minute 0:22).
For its part, Malaysia Airlines says the Recaro CL3810-based seats “feature an ergonomic design and enhanced support, coupled with thoughtful amenities such as coat hooks, cup holder and ample stowage for added cabin comfort and practicality”.
Notably, however, the seats are also lightweight and more sustainable, with Recaro having famously crafted the CL3810 platform by cutting 1.5kg per passenger seat from its successor, the CL3710 through the use of composites. Recaro also repositioned the seat structure to add what it says is an inch of living space.
In-seat IFE is fitted from nose to tail including in economy class. Image: Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines’ CMF (color, materials and finish) for the A330neo interior is especially on point, with its signature songket motif — paying homage to Malaysia’s cultural heritage — evident from nose to tail. The signature LED lights offered as part of Airbus’ Airspace interior also cast a pretty glow.
“Malaysia Airlines has undergone a chequered journey over the last decade, however through it all, our resilience has remained steadfast,” says Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG).
“Having stabilized our balance sheet and recording our strongest-ever financial year performance since the past decade, we are now in a stronger position to steer our focus towards accelerating investments into our product and service delivery to elevate the customer experience.”
The carrier is taking 20 A330neos, a mixture of purchased and leased widebodies, which together with the A350s will be used to gradually replace its A330ceo fleet, operating routes across Asia, Oceania and the Middle East.
Malaysia Airlines has selected the successor to one of Recaro’s most popular economy class seats. Image: Malaysia Airlines
To further strengthen its fleet modernization program, Malaysia Airlines will also be retrofitting six A350-900s beginning 2026 “to ensure consistent cabin standardization and premium experiences for its guests in alignment with the new A330neo cabin”, MAG revealed in a January 2024 update.
Related Articles:
- Recaro’s Dr. Mark Hiller on how aircraft seats are evolving
- Malaysia Airlines hopes to see green with Boeing 737NG cabin refresh
- Collins Aerospace herringbone: the evolution of Elevation to Elements
- Recaro’s CL3810 full-featured economy drops 1.5kg, adds knee space
- Malaysia Airlines’ Business Suite: implications for the future of travel?
- Geven reveals striking SuperEco aboard Malaysian startup MYAirline
Featured image credited to Airbus/FIXON MMS. Embedded images credited to Malaysia Airlines
