Malaysia Air Seeks Boeing Jets After China Bans Their Delivery

Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd. is in talks with Boeing Co. to potentially take over delivery slots vacated by Chinese carriers as the U.S.–China trade war heats up, Bernama reported, Ram Anand wrote for Bloomberg News.

Malaysia Airlines ordered as many as 60 Boeing planes earlier this year as part of a campaign to renew its narrowbody fleet. I Photo: Malaysia Airlines Facebook

The parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines may tap the capital markets to fund any successful bids for Boeing’s slots as it looks to expedite the modernization of its aging fleet, CEO Izham Ismail told the local news agency.

The planes must meet the carrier’s cabin requirements, he was quoted as saying. MAG’s interest comes after Beijing ordered its airlines to halt receipt of Boeing aircraft and suspend purchases of aviation equipment and parts from U.S. companies.

Malaysia Airlines, which is wholly owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd., ordered as many as 60 Boeing planes earlier this year as part of a campaign to renew its narrowbody fleet.

Slower-than-expected aircraft deliveries and a maintenance crunch prompted Malaysia Airlines to cut its capacity by more than 6,000 flights in the final quarter of 2024, leading to a more than 90% drop in full-year net profit.