Avolon has delivered the first of 20 Airbus A330neo aircraft to Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines. The milestone delivery took place at Airbus’ Delivery Centre in Toulouse, with the remaining aircraft scheduled for delivery through to 2028.
The transaction, announced in August 2022, includes ten A330neo aircraft sourced from Avolon’s orderbook and an additional ten acquired from MAG through a sale-and-leaseback arrangement. This agreement is a crucial component of MAG’s fleet renewal and expansion strategy, enabling the airline to modernise its operations and enhance its capacity.
The Airbus A330neo is a significant upgrade over the previous-generation A330ceo, boasting an extended range of over 13,300 km (7,200 nautical miles) and 25% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. These improvements, combined with its efficient per-seat economics, position the A330neo as the ideal choice for MAG’s fleet replacement and growth ambitions. Notably, MAG becomes the 20th airline to operate this advanced aircraft.
Powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000 engine, the A330neo offers market-leading reliability and fuel efficiency, making it a key asset for MAG as it seeks to capitalise on the ongoing recovery of the Asian aviation market.
Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon, emphasised the collaborative effort behind this landmark deal: “We are proud to have partnered with MAG on this complex and unique transaction. Our strong relationships with Airbus and Rolls-Royce enabled us to deliver an optimal solution for MAG with the A330neo. These aircraft are a core element of MAG’s fleet renewal strategy, supporting their ambitions in a highly competitive market.”
As a launch customer for the A330neo in 2014, Avolon continues to expand its commitment to this aircraft, with 29 already delivered and 46 more slated for future delivery as of September 2024.
