Malaysia Airlines, through its parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), has selected the A330neo for the carrier’s widebody fleet renewal program. The initial agreements cover the acquisition of twenty (20) Airbus A330-900 aircraft, with ten (10) to be purchased from Airbus and another ten (10) to be leased from Dublin-based Avolon.
The announcement was made at an event in Kuala Lumpur, attended by MAG CEO Izham Ismail and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International Christian Scherer, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the aircraft to be ordered from Airbus. The agreements with engine manufacturers Rolls-Royce and Avolon were also signed at the ceremony.
Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo will join the carrier’s fleet of six (06) long-range Airbus A350-900s and gradually replace its twenty-one (21) Airbus A330ceo aircraft. The carrier will operate the Airbus A330neo on its network covering Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. Malaysia Airlines will configure its Airbus A330neo fleet with a premium layout seating 300 passengers in two classes.
“The acquisition of the A330neo is a natural transition from our current A330ceo fleet. The A330neo will not only provide fleet modernization and enhanced operational efficiency, but will also meet environmental targets through reduced fuel burn per seat, while keeping passenger safety and comfort at its core. This is a significant milestone as MAG moves towards the successful execution of our Long-Term Business Plan 2.0 to position itself as a leading aviation services Group within the region,” according to Izham Ismail.
In addition to the renewal of the widebody fleet, Airbus and MAG also signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to study a wider collaboration in the areas of sustainability, training, maintenance, and airspace management.
“Malaysia Airlines is one of the great Asian carriers and we are proud and humbled to be its preferred supplier of widebody aircraft. The decision is a clear endorsement of the A330neo as the most efficient option in this size category for premium operations. It’s also the clear winner in terms of in-flight comfort and we are looking forward to working with Malaysia Airlines to define an exceptional cabin experience,” Scherer said.
The Airbus A330neo is the new generation version of the popular A330 widebody. Incorporating the latest generation engines, a new wing, and a range of aerodynamic innovations, the aircraft offers a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Airbus A330-900 is capable of flying 7,200nm / 13,300km non-stop.
The airliner features the award-winning Airspace cabin, providing passengers with a new level of comfort, ambiance, and design. This includes offering more personal space, larger overhead bins, a new lighting system, and the ability to offer the latest in-flight entertainment systems and full connectivity. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330neo also features a state-of-the-art cabin air system ensuring a clean and safe environment during the flight.
As of July 2022, the Airbus A330neo has received more than 270 firm orders from over 20 customers worldwide.