MAG takes delivery of first Boeing 737-8 aircraft

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, today took delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 aircraft.

MAG said the 737-8 is a part of the group’s fleet modernisation strategy to enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and meet future network growth requirements.

It has an orderbook of 25 units of the 737-8 through its operating lease with Air Lease Corporation, which will be delivered progressively through to 2026.

“The aircraft, bearing registration number 9M-MVA, departed from Boeing’s Seattle Delivery Centre last Monday at 10.20 am local time to Honolulu and Guam (the United States) before continuing its journey home to Malaysia. Flight MH5041, flown by Captain Mohd Ezaddin Roslan, Captain Izahariman Ibrahim and Captain Arian Syazwara Adenan, landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 10.30 am with a total flight time of 21 hours and 45 minutes,” the airline group said in a statement.

Proudly adorned in its Malaysia flag livery and new “songket” motif and “wau” logo, MAG said the aircraft was greeted with a water salute upon arrival and scheduled to take its maiden commercial flight on Nov 20 from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.

According to MAG, the 737-8 will feature state-of-the-art wireless in-flight entertainment, showcasing a wide variety of content that is set to elevate the in-flight entertainment paradigm providing passengers with ample choices.

Similar to a B737-800 NG aircraft, the 737-8 will offer seating configurations comprising 12 seats in business class and 162 seats in economy class, it said. – Bernama