KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 21 (Reuters): Malaysia Airlines is to begin a campaign for 25 new narrowbody aircraft "soon" and will make its decision by the middle of the year.
Izham Ismail, managing director of airline parent Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), says the airline is type "agnostic" for the new narrowbodies, but that the right aircraft type will have to "fit our future network plan and be commercially viable in the long run".
Izham, who was speaking at the group's annual results briefing on 21 March, notes: "We are cognisant [that] at a marketplace, or at the [manufacturer] level, slots are diminishing very, very fast. So time is against us, and we will make sure that we complete this exercise in a timely manner."
He does not rule out commitments for aircraft from Boeing, Airbus, or even Chinese airframer Comac - whose C919 aircraft visited Malaysia on a region-wide tour in March - as long as the aircraft fits the airline's operating model.
MAG strategy chief Bryan Foong adds that the airline has not decided if it will commit to orders for a single type, or a mix of aircraft types.
Malaysia Airlines has existing orders for 737 Max 8s, and so far has four examples in its fleet. However, the delivery timeline has been hit by delays amid quality control and supply chain issues at the North American airframer.
Izham had floated the prospect of 25 more narrowbodies as far back as late 2022, as it works towards its long-term goal of having a narrowbody fleet of 50 aircraft.
Separately, MAG is also mulling exercising its options for 20 more Airbus A330neos. Izham says the decision to exercise these options will also be subject to board and shareholder approval.
Malaysia Airlines is due to take delivery of the first of 20 A330neos in September, which will replace its fleet of A330ceos. The airline in 2022 confirmed the acquisition of the new widebodies through a mix of direct leases and sale-and-leaseback transactions with lessor Avolon.
The new aircraft will feature new cabin products, including Collins Aerospace's new Elevation suite for its business-class cabin.
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