Malaysia Aviation Group Plans to Order About 10 Boeing 787-10 Aircraft, Deliveries to Begin in 2031

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 18, Malaysia Aviation Group is nearing finalization of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner order, with plans to purchase about 10 787-10s to renew Malaysia Airlines' long-haul widebody fleet. The deal is still in final negotiations, and the group has not yet officially announced the signing of a purchase contract.

Under the plan disclosed so far, the newly ordered 787-10s are expected to begin delivery in 2031, mainly to replace Malaysia Airlines' existing seven leased Airbus A350s, while also reserving fleet space for subsequent long-haul route expansion. Malaysia Airlines had previously evaluated both Boeing and Airbus options, and Boeing ultimately gained the advantage with an earlier delivery slot.

On the propulsion side, the commercial terms of the engines offered by GE Aerospace for the 787 were also one of the important factors in this selection. Current information shows that the relevant conditions are superior to the engine terms offered by Rolls-Royce in the competing proposal, but the two sides have not yet announced the specific number of engines to be purchased, the contract amount, or the maintenance agreement.

Malaysia Airlines currently operates about 90 aircraft, including 57 Boeing 737 family narrowbody aircraft. Its widebody fleet has been continuously renewed in recent years, and the company has ordered 40 Airbus A330neos, of which 10 have been delivered so far; if the 787-10 order is ultimately signed, Malaysia Airlines' long-haul fleet will reintroduce Boeing widebody aircraft.

Since Malaysia Airlines retired its Boeing 777s in 2016, its long-haul widebody operations have relied mainly on Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft. One of the core goals of the proposed 787-10 purchase is to reduce the leasing costs of the existing A350s and gradually establish a new long-term long-haul fleet structure.