[ UPDATE 19/07/2023 11:00 ] Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of its brand new Boeing 737-8 in August 2023.
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Malaysia Airlines is expected to take deliveries of its new Boeing 737-8 (formerly known as 737 Max 8) very soon. The new 737-8 aircraft with the registration 9M-MVA was spotted at Boeing’s Renton facility and it carries a new tail fin logo design.
— BFI Watch (@bfi_watch_ca350) July 1, 2023
As captured by BFI Watch, the new Malaysia Airlines narrowbody jet has just rolled out from the paint shop. Besides the new split winglets and chevrons at the back of the engine, the new 737-8 also gets a hump for satellite communications which is an indication that passengers will be able to enjoy WiFi services on board.
Although Malaysia Airlines’ jalur gemilang livery isn’t new, the tail design of the 737-8 gets a modern-retro feel. It now features a non-slanted wau logo in red and blue which is now overlayed with a songket design. Next to the front door, there’s also a Malaysia Aviation Group’s “Sustainable Tomorrow” logo. You can get a clearer high-resolution view here and here.
In terms of interior, it is likely that Malaysia Airlines will adopt its new next-generation cabin that’s currently rolled out on its newly refurbished 737s. The new interior features lightweight seats with no In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) screens. This means passengers will need to use their own smartphones or tablets to stream video content via the onboard WiFi connection. The seats come with a personal device holder as well as USB-C and USB-A ports for charging.
In 2016, Malaysia Airlines placed a firm order for 25 units of the 737 Max 8 with the option for 25 more. Last year, the airline restructured its order and it will be receiving the new aircraft from Air Lease Corp with deliveries scheduled between 2023 and 2026.
In case you’re wondering, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) lifted the suspension of the Boeing 737 Max operations in Malaysia in September 2021. Both Batik Air and Singapore Airlines are currently operating flights with the same aircraft type. Batik Air (Formerly Malindo) was the launch customer for the Boeing 737 Max 8 when it received the aircraft in 2017.
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