Malaysia Airlines may opt for sale and leaseback for B787-900

Malaysia Airline CEO Peter Bellew at the press conference yesterday on MAS fleet strategy

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines Bhd is placing orders for new-generation aircraft that are more fuel-efficient and can fly further in a bid to reduce operating cost and offer the latest products and services to match its peers.

However, its move to add more wide-body aircraft to its existing fleet of narrow-body planes has come under fire. This is especially so since it is now a regional airline, with only one long-haul connection to London. Nonetheless, the airline ordered eight B787-900 aircraft, the ultra-long-haul planes, early this month from Boeing. It may opt for six more of such planes or the A330neos over the next six months.