Lessor Avolon has delivered the first of 20 new Airbus A330neo widebodies to the parent of Malaysia Airlines, a key step in the renewal of the Oneworld carrier’s fleet.
The aircraft was delivered to Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) at the Airbus Delivery Centre, in Toulouse, according to Avolon.
The remaining aircraft will be delivered “out to 2028,” and ultimately replace the carrier’s existing fleet of A330s.
The carrier’s receipt of the jets has undergone significant delays. Original plans called for the first jet to be delivered by the middle of 2024, but this slipped to October.
In October MAG said that deliveries would be delayed for two additional months owing to “findings identified by Airbus during the flight line stage.”
This precluded the carrier from the planned launch of A330neo services to Melbourne in December.
Five A330neos are expected by end-March 2025, compared with original plans that called for four to be delivered by the end of 2024.
