For anyone who has ever struggled finding sleep on a plane, a hotel in Malaysia is offering what could be a healing experience, in the form of two real Boeing 747s stationed on its grounds, converted into luxury suites.
The 1975 Avenue & Hotel in Johor Bahru has installed the two jumbo jets next to its pools and the building housing its other 20 conventional rooms. One is a former Pan Am aircraft and the other flew for Japan Airlines (JAL). The hotel has renamed them Bove and Bey.
While the JAL aircraft was originally designed to carry up to 533 passengers, each plane now offers just nine suites with interiors inspired by countries across the globe, including Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, China, but also the UK, Italy and Switzerland, or Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
After boarding via a jet bridge connected to the main hotel building, guests can make their way to their rooms.
To emulate the flying experience, accommodation on the aircraft comes in the following categories: Premium, Business, Captain and Signature. Fortunately for guests, the hotel has foregone the economy category.
The Premium Suites span two levels and feature a king-size bed, a freestanding bathtub, a rain shower and a separate living area. The result is rather pleasant and enticing. Airlines might want to take a look for inspiration.
The preserved and refurbished cockpit is also accessible to guests.
Everything the hotel has to offer at the aircraft’s feet, starting with the dining options, showcases the advantages of not actually being in the sky. These options include Hanareya @ 1975, which serves authentic Japanese food, from fresh sashimi to melt-in-the-mouth wagyu beef, as well as other dishes finished with truffle shavings for those who are so inclined.
Passengers can also enjoy a spa with a range of treatments, wellness rituals and holistic therapies. Like any self-respecting hotel nowadays, 1975 Avenue features a gym alongside a steam room, a rooftop swimming pool, a sunken jacuzzi and a man-made beach pool.
Children are welcome and will delight in discovering the Playscape Water Park and its wide range of family-friendly water activities.
The planes have been on the hotel site for a few years now, and plans for their transformation date back to at least 2022.
Before becoming hotel accommodation, both aircraft had long careers in commercial aviation.
@sehari.august stayed at Malaysia’s first boeing 747-themed hotel! 1975 Avenue & Hotel in Johor Bahru is a unique luxury boutique stay featuring aviation-inspired suites alongside stylish designer rooms — definitely one of the more unexpected stays in JB stayed in the Business Room, with rates starting from around RM1,900++. from the complete in-room amenities to the little details, it’s the kind of room that makes you want to slow down and stay in a little longer and when you’re ready to step outside, there’s a man-made beach pool, rooftop pool and kids’ pool — making the stay suitable for both a relaxing getaway and a family escape an aviation-themed stay that feels more like an experience than just a hotel stay 📍 1975 Avenue & Hotel, Johor Bahru *NO SCREENSHOTS AND REUPLOADS TO YOUR OWN PAGE WITHOUT PERMISSION & CREDIT* #1975avenuehotel #aestheticjb #jbhotel #placesinjb #hotelsinjb ♬ original sound – phynyny
The JAL aircraft, a Boeing 47 SR-146B, entered service in 1980 and flew for JAL until 1998. It then passed through several owners before ending up in storage at Senai Airport.
The second aircraft was one of the earliest 747s and was delivered to Pan Am in 1970. It also flew briefly for American Airlines. Converted into a freighter in 1992, it later operated for Tower Air and Logistics Air before ending up in Malaysia.
The hotel is within easy reach of Singapore and about 20 minutes from Senai International Airport. This gives guests plenty of opportunities to observe their flying counterparts, although without all the space and facilities they have on the ground.
It is not cheap, with September prices ranging from 1,706 RM (€360) to 2,786 RM (€590) per suite.
The Malaysian jumbos are not the only retired aircraft to have started a second career. In the UK, for example, a former British Airways Boeing 747, which was retired during the pandemic, was purchased for £1 and converted into a bar and events venue. In Brussels, part of an Airbus A319 has been converted into an unusual venue for meetings, events and dining, located in the heart of the European Quarter.
