Malaysia Airlines nearing decision on replacing 21 A330s, CEO says

A Malaysia Airways aircraft carrying the primary batch of vacationers arrives on the airport as Langkawi reopens to home vacationers, amid the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) pandemic, in Malaysia September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

DOHA, June 19 (Reuters) – Malaysia Airways plans to announce a choice on changing its fleet of 21 Airbus (AIR.PA) A330 widebodies with extra fuel-efficient new-generation planes round mid- to late July, its chief government mentioned on Sunday.

“We’re in a late stage of the method. We’re one-to-one substitute on our A330 fleet,” Malaysia Airways chief government Izham Ismail advised Reuters on the sidelines of airline trade physique IATA’s annual assembly in Qatar.

He declined to say whether or not the airline would order the planes, meant to switch 15 A330-300s and 6 A330-200s, from a producer immediately or from lessors.

The Airbus A330neo, A350 and Boeing 787 are the new-technology choices competing in that measurement vary, however Izham declined to reveal which sorts have been into account.

Malaysia Airways has A350s in its fleet and had positioned a provisional order for 787s in 2017 however let the deal lapse.

The fleet modernisation plan designed to assist decrease carbon emissions comes because the airline, which was loss-making for years even earlier than the pandemic, has been reporting constructive cashflow since October.

Izham mentioned Malaysia Airways, which minimize its debt burden by greater than half as a part of a restructuring agreed with collectors final yr, hoped to return to a revenue in 2023.

(This story corrects variety of A330-200s to 6, not 9, in third paragraph)

Reporting by Jamie Freed in Doha; Modifying by William Mallard

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