Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has signed an MoU with Boeing for 16 airplanes, including eight 787-9 Dreamliners converted from an existing order of eight Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and eight additional purchase rights for the 737 MAX 8s.
Also part of the agreement is Boeing’s Global Fleet Care service to maintain the national carrier’s current and future Boeing airplanes.
“New widebody aircraft are a key to making Malaysia Airlines a premium airline offering a five-star product again. The extraordinary range of the 787-9 gives an ability to operate to any point in Europe and some US destinations from Kuala Lumpur in future,” commented Peter Bellew, managing director and CEO of Malaysia Airlines.
He added: “The MoU with Boeing on their Global Fleet Care programme will allow the two companies to build a world-class MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) for the 737 MAX, 787 and 737NG based on Malaysia’s existing facilities in Kuala Lumpur.”
MAS currently operates more than 50 Next-Generation 737s and has an additional 25 737 MAXs on order, including 10 for the new 737 MAX 10.
