News
Malaysia Airlines orders eight B787-9s
September 15th 2017
Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) CEO, Peter Bellew, has finally secured a deal with an order for eight B787-9s on Tuesday. Read More » Bellew had repeatedly gone on record to say that as the airline was evaluating Airbus’ A350 against Boeing’s B787 neither manufacturer had offered him the “right” price for the wide body planes.
Tuesday’s order includes eight additional purchase rights for B737 MAX 8 aircraft and Boeing’s Global Fleet Care service package.
MAB operates more than 50 B737-800s and has 25 B737 MAXs on order, including ten for the largest variant, the B737 MAX 10.
“Malaysia Airlines is proud to sign this MoU for the wide body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and additional 737 MAXs, building on our more than 40 years of partnership with Boeing,” Bellew said.
“New wide body aircraft are a key to making Malaysia Airlines a premium airline that is offering a five star product again. The extraordinary range of the 787-9 gives us the ability to operate to any point in Europe and to some U.S. destinations from Kuala Lumpur. The MoU with Boeing for its Global Fleet Care program will allow the two companies to build a world class MRO for the 737 MAX, 787 and 737NG based in Malaysia's existing facilities in Kuala Lumpur.”
MAB’s B787 order was a blow to Airbus, which had hoped to win an A350 order from MAB after the carrier previously committed to six leased -900s to replace its six A380s on the Kuala Lumpur-London route, the airline’s sole destination in Europe. The first A350 is scheduled to arrive at MAB in December.
Bellew is committed to preserving the airline’s status as a full service carrier and has reversed decisions by his predecessors to increase business through the internet and away from travel agents. He also has axed plans to unbundle fares and said the airline would not be charging extra for bags, food, entertainment or credit card use.
Last month, he revealed he is working with Northern Ireland’s Thompson Aero Seating on a customized flat-bed configuration, with direct aisle access from every seat, for the premium cabins of his incoming MAX 10 fleet.
He also has overturned a decision to launch a premium economy class cabin because it would cannibalize the carrier’s business class yields, he said. He also will retain a four-suite first class cabin on the incoming A350s.
