Malaysia Airlines has signed a provisional agreement to acquire 20 Airbus A 330 neos to replace its old fleet of A 330 widebody jets in a deal that also involves aircraft leasing company Avolon.
The airline will buy 10 of the aircraft from Airbus and then execute a sale-and- leaseback deal with Avolon, with the other 10 leased directly from Avolon, the carrier said on Monday.
A deal is expected to be made on Monday, according to industry sources last week.
The airline said the planes, which will have Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc engines, will be delivered starting in the third quarter of 2024 through 2028.
Malaysia Airlines Chief Executive Izham Ismail said in a statement that the A 330 neo will not only provide modernisation to our fleet and enhance operational efficiency, but also meet environmental targets through reduced fuel-burn per seat while keeping passenger safety and comfort at its core.
The airline is working with Airbus on a wider collaboration in Malaysia in areas such as sustainable aviation fuel, maintenance and airspace management.