News
MAB leases two more A350s and forms a standalone cargo unit
May 27th 2016
Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) this week announced twelve-year lease agreements for an additional two A350-900s with Air Lease Corporation (ALC). This follows MAB’s September 2015 deal for four new A350s with the Los Angeles-based lessor. Read More » The two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB84-powered aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2018 from ALC’s order book with Airbus. MAB is due to receive its first A350 in October 2017.
“The additional two A350-900s will complement the existing four that are on order so to reach a critical fleet size, allowing standby aircraft for any scheduled maintenance and enabling future network expansion,” said MAB chief executive, Christoph Mueller, who noted the A350 will be able to operate non-stop from Kuala Lumpur to London.
At present, MAB operates A380s to London, its only remaining destination in Europe . It has curtailed its long-haul operations and entered into a comprehensive codeshare agreement with Emirates Airline.
Separately, MAB and Lufthansa Technik this week agreed to establish a joint-venture MRO facility for A320 and B737 aircraft at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Subject to regulatory approvals and the signing of definitive agreements, the centre will offer base maintenance services for single-aisle aircraft from 2017. Johannes Bussmann, CEO of Lufthansa Technik, said: “Once this new joint venture becomes true, we will extend significantly our MRO capabilities in one of the most important emerging markets worldwide.”
MAB this week said it would apply for a separate air operator’s certificate for cargo flights operated by stand-alone unit, MABkargo, to operate alongside MAB and budget offshoots, Firefly and MASwings. The freight operator has four A330-200Fs and two B747-400Fs, although the latter have been inactive for a considerable time.
The then MASkargo CEO, Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi, said in March the freight forwarder will turn its attention away from the long-haul market to focus on southeast Asian operations instead, although connectivity to Europe will be maintained by partnerships with other carriers.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround the succession of MAB chief Mueller, who has announced he will resign from the flag carrier in September after only 20 months in the top job.
