© Provided by SimpleFlying How Malaysia Airlines Addresses Passenger Needs With Its New Boeing 737-800 Cabin
- Malaysia AirlinesIATA/ICAO Code: MH/MASAirline Type: Full-Service CarrierHub(s): Kuala Lumpur International AirportYear Founded: 1972Alliance: oneworldCEO: Izham IsmailCountry: Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines last month unveiled its first upgraded Boeing 737-800 Next Generation cabin. This move is part of an ambitious renewal program that will see all units of the model with fresh interiors by the middle of next year. Amid this progress, Simple Flying caught up with Captain Izham Ismail, Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group, to learn more about this overhaul.
Time for a change
The 2-2 configured 12 seats in business class and the 3-3 formatted 162 seats in economy class all have new outfits, with lightweight leather-upholstery. Notably, all the seating hold USB type A and C power outlets.
Along with the new designs, Malaysia Airlines is rolling out MHstudio, its innovative inflight entertainment (IFE) offering on board. Without seatback screens, the flag carrier of Malaysia notes that viewers will be able to view award-winning local and international movies and shows via their personal devices.
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Captain Ismail highlights that his airline began the refurbishment initiative after an in-depth analysis of pre-pandemic demand trends along with customer feedback and recommendations. The company launched focus groups and surveys to better understand customer needs, specifically in the short-haul sector.
Covering all angles
Major findings that came out of these programs were that passengers wanted “simplicity, convenience, comfort, and additional capacity during peak/festive travel periods.” Thus, the cabin addresses these points with a modern and sleek design and a personalized one-stop solution to loyalty, IFE, and onboard retail.
Captain Ismail shared:
“The refurbishment exercise also presented us with the opportunity to incorporate our identity into our hard product and work towards offering a streamlined and standardized brand and product design across our fleet, unique only to Malaysia Airlines. In addition to this, this exercise also ties in seamlessly with Malaysia Airlines’ commitment towards sustainability through our use of lightweight materials in the cabin design.
“As customer comfort has always been our top priority, the first refurbished B738NG is currently still undergoing some minor modifications to improve the overall customer experience. The aircraft will re-enter into service sometime in mid-August as soon as these modifications are completed. The aircraft has to date, received all the necessary certification and safety clearance to enter into service”
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When it comes to the international playing field, Malaysia Airlines is heavily reported when it comes to its Airbus widebodies such as the A330 and A350. Just this week, the airline signed an MoU for 20 A330neos to replace its A330ceos. Meanwhile, the A350 is the trusted vessel on long-haul missions to the likes of London.
Yet, Malaysia Airlines also has a sizeable domestic and regional network. With 39 active 737-800s, the new cabin will definitely revise these local operations.
Natural progression
I myself recently experienced the old 737-800 interior. There is plenty of room for a single-aisle cabin. The seat pitch is 42″ and the width is 21″, providing space for a relaxed ride on short-haul trips. The pitch is backed by a generous recline with a leg rest and foot bar, which can be controlled at the end of the armrest.
There are significant contrasts between the old and new. Photo: Sumit Singh – Simple Flying<\/p>\n”” data-modal-id=”single-image-modal” data-modal-container-id=”single-image-modal-container” data-img-caption=””””>
There are significant contrasts between the old and new. Photo: Sumit Singh – Simple Flying
While the experience was comfortable, I did feel that the decor was dated and could use a new lease of life. While the strong blue coating remains, the new look is noticeably refreshing, marking a new start in this post-pandemic era.
What are your thoughts about Malaysia Airlines’ new Boeing 737-800 cabin? Are you looking to try it out for yourself? Let us know what you think of the carrier’s overall initiatives in the comment section.
