Malaysia Airlines would discard the 787 and opt for the A330neo to replace its long-range fleet

Malaysia Airlines is close to formalising a deal to acquire up to twenty Airbus A330neo aircraft. The official announcement could be made as early as next Monday, August 22th, Reuters reported.

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The Malaysian carrier aims to replace and modernise its fleet of wide-body, long-range aircraft. It currently operates six Airbus A330-200 and fifteen A330-300. The process could involve leasing around half of the new A330neo aircraft and buying the other half outright, according to Reuters.

The airline has been studying the renewal of its long-haul fleet for months. In its analysis, it favours the most efficient models in terms of fuel consumption and operating costs. Previously, it had been reported that the company was evaluating the possibility of placing an order for around thirty Airbus A330neo or Boeing 787 Dreamliner, two models that compete in the same market segment.

The dispute between the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers is also replicated in other markets, such as China and India. Both are showing a sustained recovery and maintain good growth prospects. Now, all indications are that Malaysia Airlines will definitely opt for the European manufacturer’s model.

The Airbus A330neo is an optimised version of the original A330 and is available in two variants, the A330-800 and A330-900. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and features improved aerodynamics and construction over previous generation aircraft.

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These features enable it to offer operators greater fuel efficiency and, consequently, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The A330-800 can carry up to 406 passengers in a single class, or up to 257 in a three-class arrangement, and has a range of up to 13.120 kilometres.

The A330-900 can carry up to 460 passengers, depending on the configuration chosen by each customer, with a range of up to 12.130 kilometres.

See also: Airbus leads the race against Boeing for Malaysia Airlines orders