Malaysia Airlines to Purchase 20 A330NEOs?

Hi Avgeek,

It is not surprising that the national carrier of Malaysia to purchase 20 A330NEOs as this new type of aircraft will directly replace its current 21 A330-300/200s series. 

According to endau analytics' LinkedIn, the airline will buy 10 A330Neos directly from Airbus and while the other 10 A330Neos will be operating leased. The value of the purchase was reported to be around USD 2 billion. 

Airbus

Endau Analytic's LinkedIn Post

So far, there is no official announcement or press release from Malaysia Airlines, especially on the date of the first aircraft delivery (or Enter Into Service-EIS), type of aircraft A330-900 or A330-800? etc.

Currently, Malaysia Airlines operates 15 A330-300s and 6 A330-200s on most medium-haul routes such as Kuala Lumpur - Sydney, Kuala Lumpur - Doha, Kuala Lumpur - New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur - Auckland, and some of the short/regional routes including Kuala Lumpur - Singapore, Kuala Lumpur - Denpasar and Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok. 

Before the pandemic, during Peter Bellew's tenure as the CEO of the airline, the airline has signed to MoU (maybe it is just a Letter of Intent) to purchase 8 B787s and 8 B737MAXs - Later, the was abandoned, especially the widebody aircraft due to the airline's financial situation, changed management and the Pandemic.  

Boeing

It was also believed that the airline may also look to replace, expand the widebody aircraft, and operates a single type to streamline the operation and reduce the fixed costs.  

So my only question is, does Malaysia Airlines ever consider adding more A350s aircraft into its operation? 

The reason is A330NEO  - has limited range, even though the aircraft is improvised with the latest engine/technologies.

The airline currently (and also before the pandemic) deploys its A350s on 14x Kuala Lumpur - London, 11x Kuala Lumpur - Narita, and daily Kuala Lumpur - Osaka Kansai services. 

Does it mean that the airline has no intention to add long-haul flights to Europe or North America?

Thai Airways International New First Class on B777-300ER

Hi AvGeeks,

Just for your info, 

Earlier this year, TTRW reported that Thai Airways International leased three B777-300ERs. These aircraft will be fitted with new cabins that can accommodate 303 seats which 8 seats in First Class. 40 seats in Business class (also known as Royal Silk Class) and 255 in Economy class. 

The video below are 2 videos from Thai Airways' official YouTube channel and also, a review from Jangsu Aviation Channel. Enjoy!

Jangsu Aviation's review

Malindo Air rebranding as Batik Air Malaysia

 

Hi AsianAvGeek!

Today's post might be you're already aware but my apologies for the late update.

Effective from 11th July 2022, Malindo Air has been renamed Batik Air Malaysia. The launch ceremony was held on 11th July 2022 at Sama-sama hotel, Sepang with conjunction with the introduction of its new metal, 162 seats of B737-8 (previously known as B737MAX8). This makes, Batik Air Malaysia the first Malaysian carrier to operate the aircraft. 

From youtube channel

According to wikipedia, the parent of Batik Air Malaysia, Lion Air will transfer/relocate 10 of the B737-8s to the airline. The airline's B737-8 is configured with two cabins - 12 seats in business class and 150 seats in Economy class. This aircraft soon became the main workhorse for the airline' operation besides of ATR-72 operation, based in Subang Airport. The airline is also operating B737-800NGs with the same capacity as B737-8. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, the airline has transferred its B737-800NGs back to Lion Air.

Screenshot from Wikipedia as 03rd August 2022

Besides that, Batik Air Malaysia also announced to resume and introduce its services to International destinations due to the lifting of international border restrictions. The table below is the summary, and extraction from the airline' website.

Kuala Lumpur - Kochi effective from 01AUG22 (OD231/OD232)

2135/2310/0010/0705  DOP ex-KUL 1357

Kuala Lumpur - Mumbai, effective from 01AUG22 (OD215/OD216)

1915/2225/2315/ND0705  DOP ex-KUL 1357

Kuala Lumpur - Bangalore, effective from 04AUG22 (OD241/OD242)

2040/2220/2315/ND0605  DOP ex-KUL 47

Kuala Lumpur - Phuket effective from 01AUG22 (OD540/OD541)

1220/1250/1345/1615  DOP ex-KUL Daily

Kuala Lumpur - Surabaya effective from 10AUG22 (OD351/OD352)

0900/1045/1150/1540  DOP ex-KUL Daily

Kuala Lumpur - Ho Chi Minh/Saigon effective 15AUG22 (OD561/OD562)

1415/1525/1620/1925  DOP ex-KUL Daily

Kuala Lumpur - Amritsar effective 09SEP22 (New)

TBC

Kuala Lumpur - Kolkata effective 30SEP22 (New)

TBC

Kuala Lumpur - Denpasar - Perth (new flight), effective 15SEP22

TBC

Current schedule Kuala Lumpur-Perth direct service (OD155/OD156)

1845/ND1230/0120/0715  DOP ex-KUL 1357

Reference

DOP ex-KUL = Day of Operation from KUL

ND = Next Day

Malaysia Airlines to refresh B738's Cabin

 Hi Everyone,

For today's gossip, MH has published a video on their latest inflight product development which the airline will refresh its B737-800s cabin. 

According to this video, the new cabin seats will be eco-friendly, slimmer, and lighter than the current ones. This will applies in both business and economy classes. The video mentioned that the airline also introduce MHStudio, which means that the airline will remove the Inflight  Entertainment System (IFE) - that is the reason why the new cabin/aircraft will become lighter than the current ones.

As I noticed from this video, the airline may reduce its business seats from 16 to 12 seats by removing 1 row of seats and there will be no more separate partitions between Business and Economy classes. Interestingly, the new business class seats are able to recline, making the product more competitive and suited for medium-haul flights to South Asia, Perth, and East Asia.

It is hope that the airline's this new cabin will apply on its B737-8 which will EIS sometimes 2023 onwards?

Below is the full video from Malaysia Airlines' Youtube channel:

The move of refreshing its cabin is a really good move for MH as it will be more competitive against SQ's B737-800/B737-8 and Malindo's B737-8 as below (randomly taken from Youtube Channel).

Do you think MH's new cabin will be able to compete against SQ and OD?

Have a great weekend!

Latest Update 21Jul22

Hi Everyone,

It is been years since I left this blog due to studying and working.

Now I am starting this blog again to keep updated and share with the latest hot gossip, news and trends in the aviation Industry.

Hope you will enjoy it!

Thank You.

Regards,

Asian Aviation Gossip

How can airlines to Survive during COVID-19?

Hi everyone,

It seems a while I've been away from this blog. Well, because of COVID-19, everyone has to stay at home, hence, I've more time to spend on updating this blog (besides my current work). COVID19 or known as Corona Virus Disease 2019 is a disease that originates from Wuhan, China since Dec-19 that has been spreading and affected many countries around the world. At the moment, the worst country affected by this disease are China (of course), Italy, Iran, and South Korea (Now, USA' cases surpassing China as 29Mar20). On top of that, the numbers of cases are increasing including the USA, UK and etc.

In order to control the spread of this COVID-19 outbreak, several countries have imposed travel bans. restricted movement order or lockdown. Thus, with these restrictions have affected the respective country's economy and subsequently has impacted many areas/ businesses including Airlines

Image from Asia Nikkei

Airlines around the world are impacted by all these restrictions. Several carriers such as Malaysian- based carriers:AirAsia is ceasing all its operation, Effective 28MAR until 21APR21, According to the Edge Market on " AirAsia, AirAsia X suspend flights, ground most planes; pay cut for top executives". Meanwhile, its long-haul unit, AirAsia X had similarly approached by temporarily ceased its operation the same as AirAsia. Malindo Air, the third largest airlines Malaysia announced to suspend its all international operation during Malaysia's Restricted Movement Order (RMO). Malaysia Airlines, on the other hand, is still operating with limited flights on selected routes.


Extracted from the Edge Market Malaysia on "" AirAsia, AirAsia X suspend flights, ground most planes; pay cut for top executives". (Thank you theedge for  the information).

Singapore Airlines, the largest airline in South East Asia is ground most of fleet (138 of 147) and on top of that, cuts about 96% of its capacity in Apr-20. Besides of that, the airline has moved by cutting salary of its executive-level. However, the airline's parent company, Singapore Airlines Group has secured SGD 19 billion of funding to help the airline group to survive during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Qantas is one of the airlines that reacts faster to counteract with this outbreak. The largest airline in Australia has stood down 20,000 employees, cut all International flights (except LHR operation) grounded 150 aircraft including widebodies - B747s, B787s, and A380s and reduced significantly on its domestic capacity. 

Images for financial times

Other carriers such as American Airlines, KLM and accelerate to phase out old/aging-aircrafts in order to survive during this outbreak.

According to several newspapers/online, most of the European carriers have temporarily ceased their operation due to low demand,  travel restriction, closing respective country's border and etc in order to stop this virus spreading across the European continents. For example, AirBaltic, Austrian Airlines, and LOT Polish.


Images from Baltic times

In order to combat this outbreak/crisis, below are my suggestions/proposals - but the airline needs to evaluate it.

1. Preserve Cash.
2. Seeking government funding;
3. Phasing out old aircraft;
4. Operates domestic flight (subject to government's approval/RMO);
5. Redeal with lessor on the leased aircraft(s);
6. Deferral the aircraft's delivery;
7. Consolidate operation/hub;
8. Cut salary especially top management with highly percentage;
9. Salary reduction for employees;
10. Standoff employees if this last resort but please never and ever not consider to fire them. we need them during recovering and loss -talent;
11. Redeal with airport authority regarding airport charges and related-aviation fees;
12. to operate cargo business and operated on commercial -passenger aircraft;
13. to operate charter service especially rescue flights (if any)
14. Cost-cutting initiatives - cut unnecessary services/redeal with vendors (unless if required)
15. from 10. Reduce man-power especially at operation - to manage cost. 

MH's New China route is now open for Sale

Hi guys,

Check this out.. MH introduces new routes to Haikou; Wuhan; Fuzhou; and Nanjing..
visit mh website