A380 delay for MAS?

It is understood that the new management of MAS is considering the reconfiguration of its seats to offer a product that will reflect its new premium status.

Read more: A380 delay for MAS? http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/paj2/Article/#ixzz1aObKkld9

Kuala Lumpur: The delivery of Malaysia Airlines' first Airbus 380 jumbo jet may be delayed again, but this time it will not be due to manufacturing issues. It is understood that the new management of MAS is considering the reconfiguration of its seats to offer a product that will reflect its new premium status. It was reported in 2010 that MAS' A380s were configured for 508 seats. This is much higher than those offered by other premium airlines such as Qantas (450 seats) and Singapore Airlines (471 seats). According to the report, the MAS A380s are configured to have four classes - 420 Economy seats, 26 Premium Economy seats, 54 Business and eight First Class seats. Qantas, for example, seats 14 in the First Class, 72 in Business, 32 in Premium Economy and 332 in Economy. Seat plans are typically finalised two years before the delivery of the aircraft. Seats are fitted six months before delivery. Equipment such as seats and in-flight entertainment are buyer-furnished, which means that airline operators deal direct with the manufacturers of the equipment. Supplier-furnished equipment, such as the wiring in an aircraft, is done by the airframe manufacturers. With the first of the A380s due to arrive in the first half of 2012, it is understood that any reconfiguration work would lead to a delay in delivery. MAS has ordered six A380s. Alternatively, MAS could take delivery of the planes and re-configure it later, but such a move is seen as counter productive. "With less than five seat manufacturers worldwide and backlog issues due to a large number of deliveries, a delay appears inevitable," an industry source said. The Boeing 737-800s are also likely to have their seats reconfigured to become "more premium". The aircraft seats 16 Business Class and 144 Economy Class passengers now. "Singapore Airlines and Emirates offer private suites, and most premium carriers have flat beds now. MAS will have to come up with a better offering to compete really," Standard and Poor's aviation analyst Shukor Yusof told Business Times.