Airlines devote countless hours to evaluating new aircraft and bringing them into service, so it is an exciting time for all involved when the first of a new type takes its inaugural commercial flight. It is also an honor to be the airport that welcomes the first flight, and those two worlds came together today when the first Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330neo landed at Melbourne Airport this morning.
The new A330neo is a winner on this popular route
On Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, officially welcomed the new aircraft to its fleet. The addition of the A330neo marks a pivotal step in MAG's fleet modernization strategy and demonstrates its commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and elevating passengers' comfort and service.
Photo: Malaysia Airlines
Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, said the debut of the first A330neo marks a transformative moment for MAG as it modernizes its fleet and sets a new era of air travel where innovation, comfort and sustainability come together seamlessly. He added:
"This commitment underscores our dedication to placing our passengers at the heart of everything we do, delivering an exceptional and unforgettable journey that embodies the warmth and care of Malaysian Hospitality."
Photo: Malaysia Aviation Group
Later on Thursday, Malaysia Airlines put its shiny new Airbus A330neo to work when flight MH149 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) at 22:38. After a flight of 7:27 hours, the new-generation wideboy, registration 9M-MNG and MSN 2080 arrived at Melbourne Airport (MEL) at 09:05.
Map: Flightradar24
This first rotation will be completed this afternoon when the aircraft departs Melbourne at the scheduled time of 15:10 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 20:25. Today's flight from Malaysia to Australia was the A330neos second flight, preceded by its delivery flight from Toulouse Balagnac Airport (TLS), the home of Airbus, to Kuala Lumpur on November 28, 2024.
Related Review: Malaysia Airlines' Golden Lounge At Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Simple Flying had the opportunity to enjoy a delightful lounge experience before a flight to Melbourne, Australia
Posts 1 Melbourne is the global launch destination
Airports play a vital role in attracting new airlines and services, and Melbourne Airport has been extremely successful in rebuilding its international network since aviation restarted after the pandemic. Today's flight arrived full and will depart full, which is a testament to the route and the partnership between Melbourne Airport and Malaysia Airlines.
Photo: Malaysia Airlines
Melbourne Airport Head of Airline Business Development, Michael Cullen, described today as a momentous and exciting day, as the airport was not only welcoming Malaysia Airlines' brand new A330neo but also because Melbourne had the honor to be chosen as the global launch destination.
"We are also excited about the new level of passenger comfort the aircraft is going to deliver, particularly the refreshed business class cabin. Not only does it provide a new cabin experience, but the A330neo also delivers a new level of sustainability for aircraft operations, which is a critical goal for Melbourne Airport as we continue to support aviation's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint."
This is the first of 20 A330neos to be delivered by 2028, following a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and lessor Avolon. The new-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000, in combination with advanced aerodynamics and materials of the aircraft, will deliver around a 14% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to the previous generation A330s.
Photo: Michael Doran I Simple Flying
Malaysia Airlines told Simple Flying today that the new aircraft will operate between KUL and Melbourne Airport six days a week for the next few weeks before branching out to other ports, such as Auckland, Sydney and Tokyo. With a relatively short flying time and a quick rotation back to the home base, the airline believes Melbourne is an ideal route to introduce the new aircraft type with high-quality technical and operational support at either end of the route.
Time to have a look inside the aircraft
Courtesy of Melbourne Airport and Malaysia Airlines, Simple Flying (aka me) was invited to go onboard the aircraft after its arrival in Melbourne. The first thing I noticed was that distinctive new car smell, followed by the lightness and spaciousness of the Airbus cabin and the smart way it has been configured.
Photo: Michael Doran I Simple Flying
The aircraft has a two-class layout of 297 seats, including 28 lie-flat suites in business class and 269 in economy, although the latter includes 24 extra-legroom seats. The full-service carrier has decided not to designate a premium economy section, but after trying out the extra legroom rows, they seem as roomy as any premium economy cabin I have flown on.
Photo: Michael Doran I Simple Flying
The business class cabin has a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout with newly designed Collins Aerospace Elevation business class seats. The suites have a sliding door, and the middle pair includes a center divider, so there is plenty of privacy for sleeping or just some quiet downtime.
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Business class has all the usual storage, in-seat power, smartphone wireless charging pad, entertainment screen, individual lights, and other comfort features premium passengers have come to expect, but done with a high-quality classic feel. The economy cabin is configured in a 2-4-2 layout with 17.5-inch wide seats set at 31-inch pitch, apart from the first three extra legroom rows.
Photo: Michael Doran I Simple Flying This is a roomy comfortable aircraft wherever you sit
Having recently traveled long-haul on a competitor's A330neo configured in a one-class layout of 459 seats, I think the Malaysia Airlines cabin of 297 seats is perfect for the routes it operates. It is also pleasing to see the much larger overhead bins, and the flight attendants were very enthusiastic about the larger and more open galleys on the A330neo.
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The inflight entertainment system includes the industry-leading FlightPath3D, featuring real-time tracking and detailed journey insights. Passengers can also enjoy a comprehensive destination guide, and all passengers, regardless of cabin class or loyalty tier, can access high-speed complimentary WiFi onboard.
Discover more aviation news for Australia and Oceania here.
Malaysia Aviation Group currently operates a fleet of 107 aircraft across its subsidiaries, including Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings and MASkargo. It plans to expand the fleet to 62 narrowbodies and 52 widebody aircraft by 2033 and received its fifth Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft this month, with the remaining 20 expected between 2025-2026.