Malaysia Airlines orders up to 60 Boeing Jets to revamp fleet

Malaysia Airlines has ordered up to 60 planes from Boeing Co. as the carrier looks to overhaul its aging narrow-body fleet.

The airline has ordered 18 Boeing 737-8s and 12 Boeing 737-10s, with deliveries set to start in 2029, Chief Executive Officer Izham Ismail said on Friday. The carrier has options for 30 additional 737s, he said.

The purchase allows Malaysia Air to phase out its older jets as it looks to hit a target for a modernized narrow-body fleet by 2030, according to the company. The carrier uses Boeing planes in its short-haul fleet of some 50 aircraft. 

The fleet revamp follows a string of setbacks that saw Malaysia’s national carrier cut capacity over the second half of last year. Its 85-strong fleet has suffered increased technical and mechanical issues, which management has blamed in part on a shortfall of spare parts. 

The carrier has this year taken delivery of several Boeing 737-9 Max single-aisle jets and one A330-900neo wide-body aircraft. It’s previously inked a deal with Airbus SE for 20 A330neo aircrafts to replace its wide-body fleet. 

The airline is still pursing an expansion of its wide-body fleet, Izham said.