Malaysia Airlines will reduce its operating schedule until the end of the year due to aircraft reliability issues and delivery delays.
The airline’s parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said on August 24 that it would “take corrective measures as required” while it downsizes its network. The group, which also includes regional subsidiary Firefly and religious pilgrimage tour operator Amal, did not disclose the extent of the schedule cuts.
However, MAG CEO Izham Ismail said the cuts would “ensure the long-term reliability of our fleet and the robustness of our operations.”
“As previously committed, as we continue to return global flight operations to normal after the pandemic, we are taking immediate action to address the root causes of these significant issues contributing to operational difficulties, including supply chain bottlenecks, staffing issues and other external factors,” Izham said.
Major airline operator Malaysia Airlines has been hit by a series of operational problems within a week. On August 19, an Airbus A330-300 en route from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur had to be diverted to Alice Springs due to engine problems.
Just one day later, another A330 bound for Shanghai returned to Kuala Lumpur due to a possible cabin pressure problem.
On August 22, a flight bound for Medina returned to the Malaysian capital because of problems with cabin pressure.
At the same time, the airline has been struggling with delivery delays for new Boeing 737 Max 8s due to ongoing production problems at the North American aircraft manufacturer. Malaysia Airlines has only received four of the 25 Max 8s it ordered – a slower delivery rate than expected.
The flood of problems led to operational disruptions at the airline and passengers had to expect delays and flight cancellations.
Izham says: “We are working closely with our aircraft and engine manufacturers and a wide range of suppliers to comprehensively resolve supply chain and technical issues.”
He did not disclose how many Malaysia Airlines aircraft were affected by technical problems.
“Our highest and most urgent priority is to ensure our aircraft are in optimal condition to ensure safe and efficient operations while minimizing potential disruptions. We are committed to strengthening our operations and positioning the company for long-term success and growth,” Izham added.
