Malaysia Airlines Begins Narrowbody Refresh With First MAX Delivery

Adrian Schofield November 16, 2023

Malaysia Airlines first MAX — Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-8

Credit: Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines has received the first of its leased Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, after recently expressing frustration at delivery delays.

The carrier’s initial MAX arrived in Kuala Lumpur Nov. 16 after departing Seattle Nov. 13 and stopping in Honolulu and Guam. The aircraft is due to enter commercial service Nov. 20 on a domestic route from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, located on Borneo.

Malaysia Airlines is configuring its MAXs with 12 business class and 162 economy class seats.

The first delivery was delayed by the manufacturer multiple times. A delivery target was set in May, but was then revised to August, and then slipped again by three months to November.

At the CAPA Asia Aviation Summit on Nov. 2, Malaysia Airlines Group MD and CEO Izham Ismail said he was “very disappointed” in the shifting delivery timeline. At that time, he said he did not have a firm commitment for the November target date, and he could not be sure it would arrive by then.

Malaysia Airlines has a total of 25 737-8s on order via lessor Air Lease Corporation, and they are due for delivery through 2026. Malaysia Airlines was initially expecting to receive seven MAXs in 2023, but this was later revised down to four.

The carrier is now considering a follow-up narrowbody order to continue the replacement of its fleet of nearly 50 737-800s. Izham has stressed that multiple manufacturers and aircraft types will be considered for this order.

A formal request for proposals for the narrowbody order is due to be issued in the first quarter of 2024.

New aircraft are also coming into the widebody fleet. Malaysia Airlines has secured a lease on an additional Airbus A350, which is expected to enter service in December. The carrier already operates six A350s. Malaysia Airlines is in the market for three more leased A350s, Izham said.

The carrier is scheduled to take delivery of its first A330neo in September 2024. The A330neos are due to replace the airline’s current A330 fleet.