MAS orders 737-800s, delays A380 deliveries
Leithen Francis, Singapore (31Mar08, 10:46 GMT, 362 words)
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has decided it will be buying 55 Boeing 737-800s starting with a firm order for 35 while the rest will be on option.
“We have placed a firm order for 35 737-800s with an option for another 20” and the total cost of the 55 aircraft at list price is $4.2 billion, MAS managing director and CEO, Idris Jala, says in a statement to the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange.
“We expect to take delivery of the first aircraft from September 2010…when the weakness in the global economy should be less of a concern”, he says.
This new fleet of narrowbodies will be used to replace the airline’s existing fleet of Boeing 737-400s and to expand the network to new destinations, says Jala.
MAS also has the option to switch the 737-800s to larger capacity Boeing 737-900s, he adds.
The Malaysian national carrier chose the 737-800 over the Airbus A320 but in today’s statement the carrier is quick to highlight that Airbus will still benefit from MAS’ future growth.
The airline earlier ordered six Airbus A380s that were originally due to be delivered from January 2007 to December 2008.
So far none have been delivered – because of the delays in the A380 programme – and earlier there were some suggestions MAS may try to cancel the order.
This is because it announced a while ago it was experiencing problems filling its Boeing 747-400s.
But in today’s statement MAS says it plans to still take delivery of the six A380s and it has been agreed with Airbus that the first will come in January 2011 and the last in August 2011.
“I think today is a good day for MAS, Airbus and Boeing” and MAS is “happy to work with both manufacturers”, says Jala, adding that MAS is now in discussions about new widebodies. The airline currently operates Boeing 747-400s and Boeing 777-200ERs.
“This is again an opportunity for both Airbus and Boeing to make their pitch for our business” and “we will intensify our discussions with the manufacturers” on this, he adds.
MAS faces increased competition on domestic and short-haul international routes from Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia which operates new A320s.
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