Malaysia Airlines Nears Order for Its First Boeing 787s to Renew and Expand Widebody Fleet
Malaysia Airlines is nearing the finalization of a landmark order for its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with the objective of replacing seven leased Airbus A350 aircraft currently in service and supporting its long-term growth plans, according to Bloomberg.
A Strategic Evaluation of the Boeing 787-10 Order
The airline’s parent company, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), is evaluating an order for 10 units of the Boeing 787-10, the highest-capacity variant in the Dreamliner family.
According to sources close to the potential transaction, the American manufacturer Boeing has gained an advantage over its European competitor Airbus by securing early delivery slots starting from 2031.
Replacement and Growth Plans
The company aims to replace the seven leased Airbus A350-900 aircraft currently in operation and add incremental long-range capacity. In August, the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), Captain Nasaruddin Bakar, stated to The Edge:
“We have seven [A350s] today. So, of course, there will be a minimum of seven to replace. But we are also looking at growth. So, there will be more than seven.”
Models evaluated as potential replacements for this fleet included:
- Airbus A350-1000
- Boeing 787-9
- Boeing 787-10
- Boeing 777X
Current Widebody Fleet Overview of Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines’ current twin-aisle fleet is composed of:
- Airbus A350-900
- Airbus A330neo
- Airbus A330-200
- Airbus A330-300
The airline currently operates 10 Airbus A330neos and has 30 additional units on firm order. In July 2025, the company exercised purchase options for 20 A330-900neo aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029 and extend continuously through 2031.
The eventual confirmation of the order for 10 Boeing 787-10s would mark the debut of the Dreamliner family in the Malaysia Airlines fleet.
Related Topics
Airbus Reaffirms Full-Year Guidance, Banking on Record Q4 Surge to Reach 870 Deliveries
Airbus and Air France-KLM Finalize Alpha Component Solutions Joint Venture for A350 Component Support
Atlantic Airways Orders Two Airbus A320neo Aircraft to Modernize Its Fleet
Allegiant Air Orders Six Additional Boeing 737 MAX Jets
Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.