Malaysia Airlines is considering placing an order for 45 new aircraft, with 35 being narrow-body and 10 wide-body. The Malaysian airline aims to solidify its long-term growth plans.
According to an interview with Bloomberg, Malaysia Group CEO Izham Ismail anticipates the incorporation of the new wide-body aircraft into the fleet starting from 2030. As for the narrow-body planes, Malaysia Airlines will reach out to manufacturers to submit bids in the first quarter of 2024, with the first deliveries expected in 2028.
Selecting the future fleet for an airline is a challenging and uncertain task, given the lengthy delivery times and the potential for various unforeseen circumstances. This is evident in Boeing’s 737 MAX delays and Airbus’s issues with Pratt & Whitney engines on the A320neo.
Izham Ismail has voiced his frustration with Boeing due to the delays in the 737 MAX family and does not rule out the possibility of choosing another manufacturer’s product for the next phase of fleet expansion or renewal.
«We are agnostic about the type of aircraft after what we have been through in recent months. We are open to the A220. To some extent, what’s wrong with COMAC? If the fleet fulfills our mission, vision, and aspirations and is commercially favorable for MAG, we will lean towards that type of aircraft,» he expressed regarding Boeing’s delays.
Here, an excellent opportunity arises that COMAC should not overlook – introducing the C919 to the Malaysian market and offering the still-developing C929. The C919 has a backlog of 1,500 orders. Meanwhile, the A220, specifically the 300 series, has successfully occupied the space that belonged to the A319 and B737-700, largely displacing them and becoming the flagship aircraft for airlines such as Breeze Airways and Air Baltic.
The landscape for wide-body aircraft is entirely different. Malaysia Airlines has defined its stance on this segment, intending to expand its fleet of Airbus A350-900 by leasing four additional planes to complement the current fleet of six A350s.
There’s not much more to say; the A350 seems to be Malaysia’s favorite, but they might surprise the market by ordering some A330neo for flights with lower demand or opting for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, despite its delivery delays. It’s worth noting that in 2017, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire Dreamliners, but this never materialized into a firm order.
Currently, Malaysia Airlines operates a fleet comprising 42 Boeing 737-800, 6 A330-200, and 6 A350-900 aircraft.
«but they might surprise the market by ordering some A330neo for flights with lower demand»
Not really a surprise since they already have A330s in operation and A330neos in order