Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will spend RM700 million (US$185 million) to upgrade its first- and business-class cabins and the entire inflight entertainment system in its 17 Boeing 747-400 and 15 B777-200 aircraft.

Refitting will start in mid-2004 with the first enhanced aircraft expected to be in service by November 2004.

MAS senior general manager sales, distribution and marketing, Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Dahlan, said: “First class passengers, limited to 12, will enjoy increased cabin space, extended legroom, personalised seating pods adjustable to individual passenger height and converting to lie-flat beds, mood lighting and elegant fittings.

“Business class passengers will enjoy increased space including additional 21 per cent legroom, mini-pod seats with lie-flat facility and redesigned cabins. Each seat will have a fixed privacy shell creating private personal space, and be equipped with a 110V AC outlet to power notebooks.”

All passengers can enjoy a new System 3000i audiovisual on-demand entertainment offering DVD-type picture resolution and a host of interactive inflight services.

The enhanced premium-class cabin has been targeted to increase MAS's first-class seat load factor by 10 per cent. “As our seats will be third generation, it will give us a competitive advantage over other carriers which have first-generation seats.”