Malaysia Airlines to deploy A380 to Paris

Malaysia Airlines announced (22-Jan-2013) plans to commence A380 service on its Kuala Lumpur-Paris route beginning 01-Mar-2013. The French capital is the second European destination after London in the carrier's long-haul network to be operated by the 494-seat A380. The daily A380 service will replace the current 282-seat Boeing 777 operations, increasing daily seat capacity by 75% effective 01-Mar-2013. Malaysia Airlines senior VP sales and distribution Duncan Bureau said, "We first started flying this route in April 1982 using the DC-10 aircraft with a transit in the Middle East. Today in 2013, almost 31 years later, we are using our latest flagship aircraft, the A380 which showcases our newest premium offering in products and services, for this nonstop service." With the A380 replacing the 777-200, Malaysia Airlines is also introducing first class travel on this route, with eight first class seats on the main class deck with seat pitch of 89" and convertible into a full flat bed of 87" length and a width of 40". [more - original PR]