Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plans to start looking into ordering new widebody aircraft early next year, as it evaluates options to replace existing aircraft and expand its fleet.
"We will definitely get something, but we haven't gotten into the process... We will start looking at it early next year," says MAS' CEO Azmil Zahruddin at the sidelines of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines annual assembly of presidents.
The carrier will evaluate both the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 XWB and will place a substantial order once it decides, he adds.
"It's not going to be five or six aircraft, it will be a double-digit aircraft order," says Azmil, adding that it is possible MAS could go for a mix of 787s and A350s.
The airline plans to use the new aircraft to replace its older 777-200ERS, most of which are already more than 10 years old, says Azmil. MAS operates 17 777-200ERs currently.
"The new aircraft will also eventually replace our current A330s as well, " he adds. According to Flightglobal's ACAS database, MAS operates 12 A330s and has ordered up to 25 more. It also has orders for four A330-200 freighters.
MAS had said previously that it did not plan to order the 787 due to the long lead time for the aircraft to be delivered.
However, Azmil indicates this stance has since changed as the airline looks at replacement aircraft down the road. "It's a matter of timing, and not so much of us not wanting it [the 787] at all," he says.
MAS has embarked on a plan to take ownership of more of its aircraft, as it moves away from an all-leased fleet. Late last year, it announced that it would acquire its order of six A380s from Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB), which owns 52% of MAS.
It also bought over two 777s and two 747s as part of the same deal.
Azmil says the airline's goal is to own at least one-third of its fleet by end-2012. The carrier operates 86 aircraft now and has orders for up to 90 more, according to Flightglobal's ACAS database.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
