KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, today took delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
MAG said the 737-8 is a part of the group's fleet modernisation strategy to enhance customer experience, operational efficiency and meet future network growth requirements.
"The aircraft, bearing registration number 9M-MVA, departed from Boeing's Seattle Delivery Centre on Nov 13, 2023 at 10:20am local time to Honolulu and Guam before continuing its journey home to Malaysia.
"Flight MH5041 - which was flown by Captain Mohd Ezaddin Roslan, Captain Izahariman Ibrahim and Captain Arian Syazwara Adenan - landed in KL International Airport at 10:30am with a total flight time of 21 hours and 45 minutes," it said.
Proudly adorned in its Malaysia flag livery and new songket motif wau logo, the aircraft was greeted with a water salute upon arrival.
The aircraft is scheduled to take its maiden commercial flight on Nov 20 from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.
The 737-8 will feature state-of-the-art wireless in-flight entertainment, showcasing a wide variety of content that is set to elevate the in-flight entertainment paradigm providing passengers with ample choices.
Similar to its refreshed B737-800 NG aircraft, the 737-8 will offer seating configurations comprising 12 seats in business class and 162 seats in economy class.
MAG has an orderbook of 25 737-8 aircraft through its operating lease with Air Lease Corp, which will be delivered progressively through to 2026.