Heathrow welcomes Malaysia Airlines' first A380

Malaysia Airlines today celebrated the launch of its first Airbus A380 service between KL International Airport (KLIA), Malaysia and London Heathrow, joining the elite league of airlines to fly the world’s largest and most eco-efficient airliner. The A380 painted in its full celebration livery arrived into London Heathrow from KLIA as flight MH002 early this morning before departing on its schedule from the UK at 12.00 GMT.

Malaysia Airlines’ Group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya was joined by Malaysian dignitaries, the first A380 passengers and UK travel trade partners to celebrate the airline’s inaugural non-stop Airbus A380 flight from Heathrow to KLIA.

Speaking at the event, held in Malaysia Airlines’ newly refurbished Golden Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4 prior to the departure of flight MH003, Mr. Ahmad Jauhari Yahya highlighted the airline’s commitment to the London Heathrow – KLIA route.

“The A380 showcases our latest premium offering and it was imperative that the first of these new aircraft was inaugurated on the prestigious London route, a route we have been operating from Kuala Lumpur since 1974. 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.”

Colin Matthews, CEO of BAA added “We are delighted to welcome Malaysia Airlines to the list of carriers that operate A380s here at Heathrow. The A380 represents a significant step forward in improved environmental performance on Heathrow’s airfield and we are proud to accommodate this latest addition to the fleet.”

Malaysia Airlines has introduced a number of unique enhancements onboard its first A380 including the widest seats of any First Class cabin in the sky at 40 inches.

Business Class and First Class passengers will also enjoy the pre-ordering ‘Chef-on-Call’ service, raising in-flight dining to new levels of excellence, whilst all passengers will have access to the latest individual in-flight on-demand entertainment.

The 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, providing some of the most spacious cabins in the skies. The new interiors have been designed by leading aviation design consultancy, Priestmangoode.

Malaysia Airlines preparation for the A380 and its forthcoming membership of the oneworld alliance, which it is set to join in the last quarter of 2012, has also included front and back of house upgrades on the ground at London Heathrow Terminal 4. These include the introduction of more desks enabling faster check-in and swifter bag-drop for those who checked-in online; increased baggage reclaim capacity and the recent refurbishment of Malaysia Airlines’ Golden Lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 for Business and First Class passengers as well as the Gold and Platinum category members of its Enrich Frequent Flyer programme.

The flagship Golden Lounge at KL International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia has also been refurbished and reopened last week in time for the A380 operations.

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 KLIA, 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 the second A380 of the six that Malaysia Airlines currently has on order with Airbus, all powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.

For further information and image requests, please contact: 
Paul Charles, Louise Ferrall or Alicia Deveney at PCC – Perowne Charles Communications – 020 7349 7059 / MalaysiaAirlines@verypcc.com

Notes to editors:

Malaysia Airlines’ onward destinations include: Malaysia (Langkawi, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Kuching, Johor Bahru ); Australia (Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney); New Zealand (Auckland); Indonesia (Bali/Denpasar, Jakarta); Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket); Myanmar (Yangon); Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho-Chi Minh City); Cambodia (Siem Reap, Phnom Penh) and Singapore amongst others.

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 Seat Configuration

First class:

· Seat pitch of 89 inches

· 87-inch full flat-bed seats

· Individual 23-inch, shell mounted, inflight entertainment screens, over 100 hours of on demand entertainment

· In-seat laptop charging facilities

· USB port and satellite telephone facility per seat

· ‘Chef-on-Call’ service

· Bulgari amenity kit

· 100% cotton pyjamas, quilted mattress, down fitted duvet

Business class:

· Seat pitch of 74 inches

· 72-inch full flat-bed seats

· Individual 17-inch, seatback mounted, inflight entertainment screens

· In-seat laptop charging facilities

· USB port and satellite telephone facility per seat

· ‘Chef-on-Call’ service available for first time

Economy:

· Seat pitch of 32 inches

· Recline of 6 inches

· 18-inch seat width

· Individual 10.6-inch, seatback mounted, inflight entertainment screens

· Laptop charging facilities shared by every 2 seats

· USB port and satellite telephone facility per seat

Malaysia Airlines is an award-winning airline:

Malaysia Airlines has been voted “Asia’s Leading Airline” again in 2011, for the second consecutive year by World Travel Awards (WTA) that gives recognition to the very best in travel, tourism as well as hospitality products and services.

Other recent accolades:

• Asia’s Leading Airline Lounge 2011 (World Travel Awards)

• Asia’s Leading Business Class Airline 2010 (World Travel Awards)

• Worlds Best Economy Class 2010 (Skytrax World Airline Awards)

• Staff Service Excellence for Asia 2010 (Skytrax World Airline Awards)