Malaysia Airlines unveils first aircraft in oneworld livery
31-Jan-2013 Malaysia Airlines today rolled out its first aircraft decorated in the livery of the oneworld® alliance - which the flag carrier of Malaysia joins at midnight tonight in one of the most significant steps in its 40-year history
The aircraft in its new-look design was unveiled at a special ceremony at KL International Airport this morning - ahead of a formal joining ceremony and press conference this afternoon - by Malaysia Airlines' Group Chief Executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya accompanied by visiting counterparts from oneworld and its other member airlines, including New York-based oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby and, from Sydney, Qantas Group Chief Executive Alan Joyce. Qantas has supported Malaysia Airlines through its alliance joining programme as its oneworld sponsor.
oneworld requires all member airlines to decorate a number of their aircraft in its standard alliance livery as part of oneworld's promotional activities.
The first Malaysia Airlines aircraft decorated with this design is one of its 10 latest Airbus A330-300s. The special alliance livery features "oneworld" in 6 ft (2 metre) high blue letters along a white fuselage and the airline's standard tailfin, serving as a massive flying billboard to highlight that Malaysia Airlines starts offering oneworld services and benefits from tomorrow.
It will make it first commercial flight in its new look tomorrow, operating as flight MH129 from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne, departing at 10.15 am.
Another two aircraft in its fleet will be decorated in this alliance livery in the coming months.
The rest of its 88-strong fleet will retain the standard Malaysia Airlines livery - but with a 30 cm diameter oneworld logo placed on the fuselage by the main passenger entry door.
Also this morning, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Bruce Ashby and Alan Joyce, placed the first of those logos on the side of one of Malaysia Airlines' 15 Boeing 737-800s
The oneworld logos will be applied to the other aircraft in the airline's fleet overnight after the end of operations today, as part of a massive overnight rebranding programme that will also see the alliance branding added virtually wherever the Malaysia Airlines' name is displayed - in particular at airport check-in desks and signage, on its website, tickets, boarding passes and all items of stationery.
The full story of Malaysia Airlines' integration into oneworld will be detailed at its formal joining ceremony at 5.30 pm today.