SEPANG (March 22): Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) carried 22% more passengers from China year to date (YTD) compared to the same period last year, an indication that confidence in the airline is gradually being restored.

"We believe the worst is over. For example China — our customers [from the country] are up 22% this year from last year. So we are seeing the market (traction) is coming back," the carrier's head of marketing Charles McKee told pressmen after the launch of the new business class seat for its Airbus A330-300 fleet.

The airline, which saw its flight MH17 shot down over Ukraine in 2014 — killing 283 passengers — just months after its flight MH370 that was carrying 239 people had disappeared somewhere over the Indian Ocean, has been trying to woo back passengers since the twin disasters.

Though McKee did not disclose the exact number of passengers from China that Malaysia Airlines has carried so far this year, he attributed the increase to user experience. Hence, Malaysia Airlines will invest more resources to enhance its premium product.

"That does not mean that we will focus only on premium products, [it is] just that our economy products are already strong," he said.

McKee also revealed that apart from introducing the new business class seat, Malaysia Airlines will also refurbish its lounges and improve its catering.

The new business class seats will be available from tomorrow (March 23) onwards.

Currently, Malaysia Airlines has 15 A330-300 aircraft. The planes will be fully equipped with the new business class seats by September this year.

The newly configured A330-300 will have 27 business class seats and 263 economy class seats.