a large white airplane on a runway

Malaysia Airlines Takes Delivery of its First Airbus A330neo

Malaysia Airlines recently welcomed its first Airbus A330neo. This marks the beginning of an extensive fleet renewal program as the airline gradually replaces its aging A330 aircraft with the A330neos.

The Airbus A330-900, with registration 9M-MNG, is the first of 20 aircraft to be leased from Avolon. These aircraft will feature 297 seats, comprising 28 Business Class suites and 269 Economy Class seats.

Malaysia Airlines is the 20th airline to operate the A330neo globally and Airbus has delivered more than 140 A330neo aircraft to airlines worldwide so far.

a jet plane flying in the sky
Photo: Malaysia Airlines

The Kuala Lumpur-based carrier will deploy its A330neos on routes across Asia-Pacific and selected Middle Eastern destinations. There are no updates yet on the A330neo’s inaugural commercial flight.

The first A330neo was initially scheduled to arrive in Q3 2024, and Malaysia Airlines had previously filed the following service entry date for the aircraft, as reported by AeroRoutes.

Note that these routes and launch dates are subject to change.

  • Kuala Lumpur – Auckland starting from 30th December 2024
  • Kuala Lumpur – Guangzhou starting from 31st January 2025
  • Kuala Lumpur – Melbourne starting from 25th November 2024
  • Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita starting from 1st March 2025
an airplane on a runway
Photo: Malaysia Airlines

The delivery flight from Toulouse, France, was celebrated with a grand welcome at Kuala Lumpur, International Airport (KLIA), including a Royal Malaysian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKM escort and a water cannon salute.

a jet plane spraying water on the ground
Photo: Malaysia Airlines

Business Class Features

Malaysia Airlines’ A330neo Business Class will feature 28 Collins Aerospace Elevation fully flat suites.

  • Direct Aisle Access with a 1-2-1 configuration
  • Privacy Doors: Each suite comes with sliding doors, providing a private cocoon for travelers.
  • Wireless Charging: Convenient charging pods for personal devices.
  • Advanced IFE: Passengers can enjoy movies and shows on a large 17.3-inch 4K QLED HDR screen with Bluetooth compatibility for wireless headphones.
  • Ample storage space, adjustable ambient lighting, USB Type-A and Type-C charging ports, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
a seat in a cabin
Malaysia Airlines A330neo New Business Class

Economy Class Features

Economy Class on Malaysia Airlines’ A330neo will offer a total of 269 seats, 24 of which will come with extra legroom than standard Economy seats.

  • A 2-4-2 layout featuring Recaro CL3810 seats with optimized support for long-haul comfort.
  • IFE: Each seat is equipped with an 11.6-inch 4K HDR screen for entertainment, alongside USB-A and USB-C power outlets for device charging.
a row of seats in an airplane
Malaysia Airlines A330neo New Economy Class
  • Passengers benefit from coat hooks, cup holders, and larger overhead bins for enhanced convenience.
  • Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available, ensuring passengers stay connected throughout the flight.

As the airline begins deploying the A330neo on regional and long-haul routes, passengers can look forward to a new travel experience.