The first Airbus A380 for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) was unveiled today bearing its special celebration livery, ahead of entry-into-service on July 1 on the Kuala Lumpur-London route.

In a statement today, the airline said the livery was designed by MAS specifically for its new A380 flagship and was applied post-delivery by Airbus
in Toulouse.

MAS said altogether it has ordered six A380s with a premium layout seating 494 passengers in three classes.

"This aircraft will be used to operate thrice weekly (Tuesday, Friday, Sunday) for Kuala Lumpur-London and the return flight departing the next day," it said.

MAS said the current overall booked load for the first seven A380 flights was very encouraging, with departures from Kuala Lumpur and London registering 89 per cent and 87 per cent seat factors respectively.

"In particular, the first five flights out of Kuala Lumpur are fully booked for First class. Likewise for three of the seven flights out of London," it said.

MAS said the demand for Business Class, which has a capacity of 64 seats per flight, was also very encouraging with one flight overbooked from London and another fully booked from Kuala Lumpur.

Overall, MAS said, the booked Business Class load for the first seven flights in each direction is around 85 per cent from Kuala Lumpur and 90 per cent from London.

By August 2012, with the delivery of the second aircraft, MAS will operate daily A380 flights on this route. -- BERNAMA