Malaysia Airlines said on Monday that it would receive its first Airbus A330-900neo aircraft in the third quarter of 2024. The airline plans to accept delivery of four of the new aircraft type this year.
The Malaysian flag carrier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Avolon in August 2022 for the purchase of 20 A330neo aircraft, which are expected to be delivered through 2028.
According to a press release, Malaysia Airlines will buy and lease ten of the A330neos directly from Airbus and lease them back to Avolon, while the other ten will be leased from the same company.
Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Airlines Group, said:
We are excited to induct the first of 20 Airbus A330neo’s in Q3 of this year, which will gradually replace our A330ceo fleet and operate to our network across Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. This expansion is not just about increasing our inventory in numbers but also introducing the first-of-its-kind cabin class, new seats and experiences that prioritises customer safety, comfort and overall satisfaction. We will continue to channel our investments into endeavours that strategically align with the key pillars driving our customer value proposition, namely cabin comfort, in-flight dining, and service delivery of our esteemed cabin crew. We aspire to curate an overall passenger experience that not only meets premium standards but exceeds them, underpinned by our inimitable Malaysian Hospitality.
The Airbus A330neo fleet will have 28 seats in business class and 269 in economy class, with a total capacity of 297 passengers. The business class cabin will feature Collins Aerospace’s Elevation seats.
In addition to the A330neos, Malaysia Airlines will also receive eight Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft this year, bringing its total fleet additions to 12 aircraft.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines has announced that it will retrofit six Airbus A350-900 aircraft starting from 2026 to match the current cabin design of the new A330neos, offering consistent experiences and service to its passengers throughout its long-haul fleet.
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