Malaysia Airlines orders 50 B737 MAX planes from Boeing

Boeing 737 MAX is a narrow body jetliner series as the successor
to the Boeing 737 Next Generation series.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Bhd has ordered 50 B737 MAX aircraft from Boeing for US$5.5bil while its listing plans are in place for March 2019.

The planes, which are expected to be delivered from 2019, are to be used for the longer range flights.

“The purchase will be a game changer for the airlines,” said its new CEO Peter Bellew.

The Boeing 737 MAX, which is the narrow body jetliner series, is the successor to the Boeing 737 Next Generation series.

According to Boeing's website, the 737 MAX Efficiency delivers 8% lower operating costs than its main competitor while its advanced technology winglet increases fuel efficiency by 1.8%.More

The new plane will also deliver better environmental performance while its superior fuel efficiency reduces carbon emissions. 

The quieter 737 MAX also has a 40% smaller noise footprint than today's single-aisle airplanes.

The purchase of these planes are part of the national carrier' plans to regain market share it has lost over recent years.

In a recent interview with StarBiz, he pointed out there will be no more staff and route cuts, instead there will be a period of refinement with lower fares for the Economy Class as the carrier tries to 

MAS will add six to seven new destinations next year, mostly flights into North Asia from KLIA2, Sabah and Sarawak, which will allow the airline to tap new segments of the market as it expands further into growth markets which are in the four-to-eight-hour flying radius.

“Most of the cost cutting is done, now it is about refinement. We have got better in our purchasing, handling cost is 50% lower, catering cost is 20% lower and fuel 5%-6% lower. It is getting much better. We need to be nimble and fly smarter,” he added.

MAS has cut 6,000 jobs and shrunk its network by 30%.

-thestar online.