Summary
- Malaysia Airlines is set to receive its first Boeing 737 MAX 8, marking the start of a new chapter for the airline.
- The MAX 8s will primarily fly on domestic and Asia-Pacific routes, with potential for intercontinental travel via Kuala Lumpur.
- The new aircraft will feature inflight connectivity with WiFi and streaming entertainment, offering a modern experience for passengers.
The first of Malaysia Airlines' long-awaited Boeing 737 MAX 8s rolled out of the paint shop last month. The flag carrier of Malaysia initially placed an order for the type back in 2016, and the first delivery is set to take place this month. Ahead of the big day, Simple Flying caught up with the airline's management about what to expect with the aircraft.
The time has come
Registration 9M-MVA will be the first unit to arrive in the airline's fleet. It features a striking new livery that signifies the start of a new chapter for the operator.
The unit has been conducting test flights at Boeing Field in Seattle over the last week, preparing for imminent delivery. The aircraft will arrive with 162 economy seats and 12 business seats to provide the capacity for 174 passengers.
The MAX 8s are set to fly on services across Malaysia and Southeast Asia. While they will primarily serve domestic and Asia-Pacific passengers, plenty of intercontinental travelers will find themselves on the aircraft when connecting via Kuala Lumpur.
Word from the airline
As such, Malaysia Airlines’ UK regional manager, Daniel Bainbridge, is excited about the arrival. He shared that it’s an excellent time to be taking delivery of new aircraft, and the 737 MAX is a significant investment from the airline.
He noted:
“Those will start flying selected regional and domestic services across Malaysia and ASEAN. They're on selected routes, not to the point that we're promoting externally on a certain route. However, we expect more to enter into the fleet over the next few years.”
Connection is key
Inflight connectivity is at the heart of the new cabin. The WiFi offering will utilize Viasat’s Ka-band inflight connectivity service. This will also include the Viasat-3 APAC satellite after it is launched.
Those in business class are being offered free WiFi until the end of the year, while others can pay to join MHconnect and enjoy the MHstudio entertainment service, which offers more than 500 on-demand options.
Speaking on the inflight provisions, Bainbridge shared:
“One of the innovations with the MAX aircraft is the connectivity on board in terms of WiFi and streaming of inflight entertainment. So, there will be no seatback televisions. The customers will be able to stream onto their own devices. We're very excited about that. It's a very modern aircraft, and it's great for customers to be able to experience that on the routes they will fly.”
Malaysia Airlines already holds 42 737-800s. The MAXs will help keep the short-haul operation fresh amid efficiency and sustainability goals. The delivery run of 25 is expected to be complete by 2026. By then, it will be a new-look narrowbody fleet for the operator.
What are your thoughts about Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX order? What do you make of the overall prospects of the aircraft in the carrier’s fleet? Let us know what you think of the plane’s potential in the comment section.