KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 4): Malaysia Airlines now expects to receive its first Airbus A330neo in October this year, instead of this month, said Malaysia Aviation Group’s (MAG) group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail.
The first of the new wide-body orders will be received on Oct 29, Izham said at a press conference at the Matta Fair here.
The national airline expects to receive five A330neos by the first quarter next year, Izham added.
The Khazanah-backed national carrier has ordered a total of 20 A330neos as part of its gradual replacement of 21 A330s, first announced in 2022.
Plane delivery delays have affected airlines all over the world, with the two biggest manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, facing supply chain disruptions at a time when air travel is booming.
Maintenance works are similarly facing delays, with time for engine works rising as much as 50% for certain airlines.
The new deliveries will be crucial for Malaysia Airlines to modernise its fleet and improve operational efficiency, the group had previously said. MAG currently owns a fleet size of 104 through its subsidiaries Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings and MASkargo, according to the company’s statement in January.