Asia-Pacific’s long-haul leader: Malaysia Airlines doubles Airbus A330neo order
July 7, 2025
While some carriers are still weighing their widebody future, Malaysia Airlines is quietly building Asia Pacific’s largest A330neo fleet.
During Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to France, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the airline’s parent company, firmed up an order for 20 more Airbus A330-900s, doubling its future fleet of the type to 40 aircraft.
With only four A330 currently in its fleet and six more expected by the end of 2025, this expanded order positions MAG for a long-term fleet transformation, with deliveries from the latest batch expected to begin towards the end of the decade.
“The A330 neo continues to deliver the right balance of operational efficiency range, and cabin comfort to support our network and growth strategy,” said Captain Izham Ismail, MAG’s Managing Director. “This additional order reinforces our long-term vision of building a future-ready fleet.”
Malaysia Airlines profitability grows increased confidence
This confidence in future growth comes on the back of two consecutive years of profitability, a remarkable achievement given the brutal impact of the pandemic on long-haul carriers.
In April, MAG reported a net profit after interest and tax of RM54 million (US$12 million) for 2024. This followed a much stronger RM766 million ($180 million) in 2023 but still signalled financial resilience, despite capacity constraints.
“Despite the capacity cuts, passenger traffic remained robust in the premium segment, with stronger load factors from both passengers and the cargo segment,” Izham said.
MAG, wholly owned by Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional, has also been aggressively modernising its fleet across both narrow-body and wide-body segments, a twin pronged approach to improve cost efficiency and passenger experience.
The Airbus A330neo: Right sized for Asia
The Airbus A330neo is emerging as the ‘just right’ aircraft for the Asia-Pacific region.
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the A330-900 combines wide-body range of 7200 nm and comfort with mid-market economics, making it ideal for both regional trunk routes and thinner long-haul corridors.
Other top carriers in the region—Singapore Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Thai Airways, and Cebu Pacific — have also embraced the A330neo into their fleets.
But Malaysia Airlines is doing more than that : it’s quietly making the aircraft the backbone of its future long-haul operations.
The Airbus A330neo brings sustainability and SAF readiness
The A330neo is also MAG’s bridge to a more sustainable fleet. Like all Airbus aircraft currently in production, the A330neo is certified to fly with up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with Airbus aiming for 100% capability by 2030.
By locking in delivery slots for the next wave of fuel-efficient wide-bodies, MAG is future-proofing its long haul network-a timely move as demand patterns remain unpredictable, and competition tightens.
“This repeat order is a strong endorsement of the A330neo’s exceptional performance, fuel efficiency, versatility and passenger comfort,” said Benoit de Saint-Exupery, EVP Sales at Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
Malaysia Airlines’ narrowbody renewal in full swing
While the A330 is set to transform MAG’s long-haul portfolio, its short-to-medium haul fleet is undergoing its own rapid evolution.
In March this year, MAG announced the direct acquisition of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, including 18 737-8s and 12 737-10s, with options for 30 more.
These are powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines and are expected to replace MAG’s ageing 737-800 fleet, which has served the airline since the binational flag carrier Malaysia-Singapore Airlines era of 1969.
“The Boeing 737 has been a cornerstone of our fleet,” said Izham. “The selection of the 737-8 and 737-10 reflects a careful evaluation of our long-term growth strategy, ensuring we have the right aircraft to meet evolving market demands.”
MAG also has an existing order for 25 Boeing 737-8s via long-term lease from Air Lease Corporation, with 11 already delivered and the remainder due by 2027.
As of mid-2025, the Group operates 113 aircraft system-wide, including 42 737-800s under Malaysia Airlines and five under Firefly. MAG aims to operate a 55-strong narrowbody fleet of next-generation aircraft by 2030, aligning with its broader net-zero and efficiency goals.
The latest A330neo order, rather than being in isolation, fits neatly into a bigger story: one of a legacy carrier turning a corner, profitably, with its eyes firmly on long-term relevance, not just recovery.
