Malaysia Airlines will further expand its fleet with the purchase of 30 Boeing 737 jets, scheduled for delivery in 2029. The move is part of the airline’s ongoing effort to modernize its operations and improve efficiency.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, confirmed that it will acquire 18 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets and 12 Boeing 737 MAX 10 planes. MAG’s managing director, Izham Ismail, announced the agreement but did not disclose its value.
MAG also owns short-haul carrier Firefly and pilgrimage airline Amal. Although the group has a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, it did not specify how the new jets will be distributed among its airlines.
The deal includes an option to purchase 30 more jets, which MAG will consider based on future market conditions. “Malaysia Airlines has to prove its credibility, that it is able to sustain its trajectory sustainably, commercially, and financially, then we’ll make that decision,” Izham said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who attended the signing, expressed his support for the partnership, highlighting the long-standing relationship between Malaysia Airlines and Boeing. “I trust that Boeing and GE Aerospace will recognise this partnership as a valuable opportunity to strengthen their presence in Malaysia,” he said.
Enhancing Efficiency and Reliability
According to MAG, the aircraft purchase followed a detailed assessment of factors such as fuel efficiency, environmental sustainability, operational performance, and technical reliability. Izham described the acquisition as an “important milestone” in the company’s efforts to strengthen its operations.
“It’s very timely that Malaysia Airlines does not repeat the same mistake. So, the ordering of new planes must be well-timed, otherwise we will end up as we did last year,” he said during a press conference.
In 2023, Malaysia Airlines temporarily scaled back its flights after the country’s civil aviation authority identified safety and maintenance issues. The airline has since worked to address these concerns and improve its overall service reliability.
Ongoing Fleet Modernization Efforts
The new Boeing order is part of MAG’s broader fleet renewal strategy. In 2022, the group signed an agreement to lease 25 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets from Air Lease Corporation, with deliveries set for completion by 2026. The first of these aircraft arrived in November 2023. MAG has already received 11 of the jets, with the remaining 14 expected to be delivered over the next 18 months.
MAG is also expanding its Airbus fleet. In 2022, the company announced plans to acquire 20 Airbus A330neo jets by 2028. The first of these aircraft was delivered in November.
With this expansion, Malaysia Airlines aims to boost efficiency and improve passenger experience. The new fleet is expected to support the airline’s long-term growth and sustainability goals.
