Malaysia Airlines has officially launched its first Boeing 737-8 (previously known as the 737 Max 8) aircraft, registry number 9M-MVA. The plane is one of 25 planes that Malaysia Airlines will receive for the next few years as part of its fleet modernisation exercise.
The launch was held at Hanger 5, MAB Engineering where the Minister of Transport, YB Loke Siew Fook, as well as Chief Operating Officer, Malaysian Aviation Commission, YM Raja Azmi bin Raja Nazuddin, Group Chairman of MAG, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, and Group Managing Director of MAG Datuk Captain Izham Ismail who also attended the launch.
The new plane is the start of MAS fleet modernisation which includes the modernisation and replacement of 737-800 planes with 25 737-8 planes that will be received by MAS in the next few years. Three more planes will join 9M-MVA by the end of 2023.
Malaysia Airlines is also looking to receive more widebody planes, with the first Airbus A330neo expected to arrive in Malaysia in Q3 next year.
“With the induction of our new Boeing 737-8, it will allow us to enhance customer experience, improve operational and fuel efficiency, and meet our future network growth requirements to support our vision for the national carrier.”
Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, Group Chairman of MAG
The 737-8 will feature the refreshed interior, first introduced with the 737-800 last year. With the new interior, MAS has elected to not install any built-in in-flight entertainment (IFE). Instead, passengers can connect with the onboard wireless in-flight entertainment via their own devices instead.
MAS will retain the current seat layout of 12 business class seats and 162 economy class seats with the 737-8. Also for the first time, MAS will be offering high-quality internet connectivity for its narrowbody planes with the introduction of the 737-8.
The first revenue flight of the Boeing 737-8 will be MH2640, which is a flight between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu set to take off at 3.40pm today (20 November 2023).
Check out the journey of the first Boeing 737-8 for Malaysia Airlines in the video below:
