Malaysia Airlines Welcomes First 737-8 as Part of Fleet Modernization

Malaysia Airlines (MH) has successfully received the initial B737-8 out of the twenty-five aircraft it has on order, marking a crucial step in the airline’s fleet modernization plan. The B737 MAX, registered as 9M-MVA with manufacturer serial number 66439, made its journey from Seattle Boeing Field to Kuala Lumpur on November 16, 2023, via Honolulu and Guam International.

The carrier, a subsidiary of the state-owned Malaysia Aviation Group, plans to integrate the B737 MAX into its operational fleet before the end of November. The aircraft, which spent a total of 21 hours and 45 minutes in flight, is scheduled to commence revenue flights on November 21. Initially, it will operate two roundtrip flights daily between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, as per ch-aviation schedules data.

The B737-8 acquisition is part of Malaysia Airlines’ broader strategy to modernize its fleet, enhance the overall customer experience, optimize operational efficiencies, and meet the anticipated growth in network requirements. The Malaysia Aviation Group finalized a deal with Air Lease Corporation in early 2022 for a total of twenty-five B737-8s, with deliveries slated to continue through the end of 2026.

Before the arrival of 9M-MVA, Malaysia Airlines’ narrowbody fleet comprised forty-two B737-800s. Looking ahead, the Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, Izham Ismail, revealed plans to issue a request for proposal (RFP) for an additional 20 narrowbody aircraft in the first quarter of 2024. Ismail also emphasized that the airline may consider alternatives and wouldn’t necessarily restrict its choices to Boeing for its long-term narrowbody fleet.

This milestone makes Malaysia Airlines the second operator of the B737 MAX in Malaysia, following Batik Air Malaysia, which already operates 16 aircraft of the same type. The addition of the B737-8 aligns with Malaysia Airlines’ commitment to modernizing its fleet, offering enhanced services, and positioning itself for future growth in the dynamic aviation landscape.