A designer shopping mall in Malaysia has just opened a spectacular new addition to its range of retail outlets. Using a former Lufthansa Boeing 747-200, the company behind the project hopes to generate visitors both to shop and also to marvel at the spectacle of its latest attraction.
In the years since the 747-200 ended commercial airline service, most airframes have since been scrapped. However, a few exceptions have escaped this fate and are enjoying a second existence by being put to other uses.
Here at Simple Flying, we have previously reported on 747s being used as a hotel, a waterpark attraction, and a mock-up of a presidential jet. Meanwhile, inside a further example in a suburb of Bangkok, tasty meals are served up, having been converted into a restaurant specializing in Thai and Malaysian cuisines.
This week, a former Lufthansa Boeing 747-200 has been re-opened as a branch of the American retail chain Coach located in a designer outlet mall in Malacca, Malaysia.
On Monday, Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Mall unveiled the world's first Coach Airways store - a unique retail concept store and café housed in a transformed 1981-vintage Boeing 747-230B aircraft.
As reported by Cision PRNewswire, the ambitious project, which began in April 2021, saw the team managing the project successfully acquire, dismantle, transfer, reassemble, and complete the Boeing 747 in May of this year.
With a total length of 231 feet 10 inches (70.6 meters) and a wingspan of 195 feet 8 inches (59.6 meters), this former Queen of the Skies, once hailed as the largest civilian aircraft in the world, has now taken on an entirely new role as the world's first-ever Coach outlet store housed within a repurposed airliner.
With the concept likely to appeal to aviation enthusiasts and shoppers alike, the Coach Airways 747 offers visitors an extraordinary fusion of aviation history and shopping. According to its owners, the spacious layout of the plane allows for "a comfortable and memorable shopping environment reminiscent of the golden age of air travel when luxury and elegance were emphasized."
To heighten the sense of excitement and nostalgia for shoppers, an entry pass resembling an air ticket (remember them?) is handed to customers upon entering the store to emulate an air travel experience right from the entrance via an air bridge.
Customers can also explore the interior of the plane and its retail cabins and browse a curated selection of all-gender ready-to-wear bags and travel accessories, all inspired by modern-day designers with their expressive approaches to fashion.
The grand opening of the Coach Airways store at the Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Mall was attended by local dignitaries, the Mall owners, the Malaysian media, as well as members of the general public on Monday, June 19th.
Speaking at the grand opening of the Coach Airways store, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Bin Yusoh, Chief Minister of Malacca, said,
"Coach Airways is the latest addition to the heart of Malacca, which marks a significant milestone in the state's dedication to enhancing its tourism offerings for the public. This launch aligns with the objectives of Visit Malacca 2024 to achieve the targeted visitors. Beyond shopping, this establishment represents a symbol of luxury and prestige for all Malaysians, especially Malaccans".
Meanwhile, revealing the concept and thinking behind using a Boeing 747 for the basis of the new store, Datuk Julian Lau, Director of Freeport A'Famosa Outlet, said,
"Since the opening of Freeport A'Famosa, we have always strived to create various innovative experiences for all our visitors. This latest addition adds a feather to our cap to offer Malaysians and tourists a fun and immersive shopping experience where they can explore the cockpit, passenger and lounge cabins while browsing the collections from Coach".
According to data obtained from Planespotters.net, the aircraft in question is a Boeing 747-230B Combi variant first delivered to Lufthansa in December 1981.
Initially carrying the registration D-ABYW and named 'Berlin' while with the German airline, the aircraft was later converted into full freighter configuration and flew for Lufthansa Cargo, Southern Air Cargo, and later, Tradewinds Air Cargo.
The plane ended its flying days with Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARH. It was finally withdrawn from service in August 2009 and remained in storage at Kuala Lumpur International Aiport (KUL) until Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Mall purchased it in November 2021.
The aircraft was dismantled at the airport before being transported in several pieces to its new site in Malacca. The video below details this process through a series of still photographs.
The plane in its new home certainly offers something a little different to your everyday shopping experience and for motorists passing the Outlet Mall on the road that passes by its entrance.
Campbell O'Shea, General Manager, Tapestry Southeast Asia & Oceania, explains that,
"The opening of Coach Airways marks not only the launch of our first retail concept of its kind but also an exciting moment for Coach as we continue to push innovation and create a space where customers can explore and interact. We are looking forward to bringing our customers this experiential retail pop-up at Freeport A'Famosa Outlet, a popular shopping destination in Malacca".
Also present at the opening even event on Monday was Dato' Dr. Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Director-General, Tourism Malaysia, who congratulated the management team of Freeport A'Famosa Outlet for achieving the Malaysia Book of Record's recognition for the 'First Retail Concept Store in An Airplane.'
The Outlet was also handed a 'Unique Retail Experience Award' by the Malaysian Association of Theme Parks & Family Attractions (MATFA) earlier this month, signifying Freeport A'Famosa Outlet as a must-visit destination where fashion, history, and innovation converge to provide an unforgettable retail experience.
With its unique 747-based store opening, Coach Airways at Freeport A'Famosa Outlet is set to provide guests with a distinctive and value-added shopping experience while attracting a broader customer base and driving sales.
In addition to the retail space, the aircraft will be equipped with a welcoming area, an immersive gallery, and a contemporary café, providing guests with a space to relax and indulge in refreshments while enjoying the unique ambiance of the transformed aircraft.
Would you like to visit the Coach Airways store in Malacca? Perhaps you flew on the aircraft when it was in commercial service? Tell us more in the comments.
Sources: planespotters.net, Freeport A'Famosa Outlet, Cision PR Newswire, YouTube