Malaysia Airlines’ newly delivered Airbus A330neo widebody was grounded just days after its inaugural flight to Melbourne, Australia, due to multiple technical issues. In addition, this operational setback comes after Malaysia’s flag carrier received its first A330neo following a two-year delay.
“Unfair for the brand”
According to a report by The New Straits Times (NST), the Malaysia Airlines
Airbus A330neo aircraft, registered as 9M-MNG, has suffered a total of three technical issues since its inaugural flight on December 19, 2024.
Photo: Airbus
Commenting on the grounding, the group managing director at Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), Izham Ismail, told NST that:
“Malaysia Airlines has suffered a series of technical issues arising from poor quality work from the factory and this has impacted Malaysia Airlines’ inaugural flight. The root cause is coming from the factory and it is affecting the reputation and brand of Malaysia Airlines. It’s unfair for the brand. Safety is paramount. I will not risk anything on safety.
“OEMs must be held accountable. This happening to a brand-new aircraft is not acceptable. To me, it’s embarrassing.”
The new Airbus A330neo, powered by two Rolls-Royce
Trent 7000 engines, is currently undergoing repairs. According to Flightradar24.com data, the aircraft’s last scheduled flight between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Melbourne (MEL) was canceled on December 21, 2024. Since then, it has remained grounded at KUL.
Ismail has not specified the nature of the technical faults. Simple Flying has asked Malaysia Airlines, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce for comment.
Delayed A330neo deliveries
The A330neo in question is the first of 20 widebody aircraft ordered in 2022. Malaysia Airlines, through its parent company, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), received this A330neo from the aircraft lessor Avolon
. According to Avolon, the remaining 19 widebodies will be delivered by 2028.
Photo: Malaysia Airlines
Of the 20 A330neos scheduled for delivery to Malaysia Airlines, ten will come from Avolon’s existing backlog, while the other ten will be delivered from MAG’s direct order with Airbus. These latter aircraft will then be sold to Avolon through sale-and-leaseback (SLB) agreements.
With a limited supply of widebody aircraft, the A330neo will serve as a key aircraft of MAG’s fleet renewal strategy, which will enable the group to capitalize on the continuing recovery of the aviation market in Asia.
The Asia-Pacific region is currently leading global growth in international air travel, with an average increase of 19.7%, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Malaysia Airlines’ A330neos will be configured in a two-class cabin layout, welcoming 28 business and 269 economy class passengers. According to Airbus
, the airline plans to deploy its newest widebody jets on routes across the Asia-Pacific region, and select routes in the Middle East.
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Inaugural flight
Malaysia Airlines debuted its Airbus A330neo on the inaugural flight between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Melbourne Airport (MEL) on December 19, 2024. The Malaysia Airlines A330neo will operate six times weekly on MH149 and MH148 between the two cities.
The addition of the A330neo marks a pivotal step in MAG’s fleet modernization strategy and demonstrates its commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and elevating passengers’ comfort and service.
Airports play a significant role in attracting new airlines and services, and Melbourne Airport has been highly successful in rebuilding its international network since aviation restarted after the pandemic. The inaugural flight arrived full and departed full.
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