KUALA LUMPUR (April 3): Malaysia Airlines Bhd, which experienced its worst on-time performance (OTP) in late 2024 due to service disruptions caused by maintenance and supply chain issues, has improved its OTP to 88% in the first quarter of 2026 (1Q2026), up from 84% in 2025, according to Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) chief executive officer of airline business Bryan Foong.

“Malaysia Airlines achieved an OTP of 88% for 1Q2026, building on a strong performance of 84% in 2025. Furthermore, during the recent Hari Raya peak season, when we operated our highest number of daily flights, we achieved a new OTP level of 93%,” he said at a media conference on Friday to announce the national carrier’s three new routes.

“As for Firefly, the airline recorded an OTP of 92% for 1Q2026 and 94.5% for the month of March,” he added.

OTP is defined as flights departing within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure time, and airlines are required by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to achieve a minimum OTP of 85% each month.

Foong also said MAG, the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MABkargo, is currently in the first phase of its fleet modernisation programme. To date, the airline group has inducted 14 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and 10 Airbus A330neo aircraft.

“This first phase will be completed in 2028, with a total of 25 737-8s and 20 A330neos, aimed at replacing our ageing fleet,” he said.

He added that the next phase of the programme will ultimately expand the group’s fleet to 116 aircraft by 2035. This will include 32 737-8s, 12 737-10s outfitted with lie-flat business class seats, 40 A330neos, and up to 16 long-range widebody aircraft.

“With these investments, we will be in a very good position to offer our customers a much better onboard experience, while delivering superior efficiency and capabilities from our refreshed fleet,” he said.

In addition, the group is also evaluating how it will replace its ageing A350 wide-body aircraft by 2032.

“Fleet modernisation alone will not be sufficient. In our efforts to be recognised among the top 10 global airlines, we continue to focus on elevating the customer experience across all platforms. We are particularly mindful of improving in-flight service, dining, and comfort, as these are where customers spend the most time engaging with our brand.

“Over the past few years, we have implemented nearly 140 initiatives across airport and onboard platforms. We hope our customers appreciate and enjoy the enhancements we’ve made, from airport services and lounges to in-flight dining, entertainment, connectivity and the overall purchasing journey," said Foong.

“For in-flight dining, we have made significant progress since the challenges we faced in 2023, and we will continue to strengthen our food and beverage offerings,” he added.