Malaysia Airlines’ freshly delivered Boeing MAX is already in service

Only four days after taking delivery of the first Boeing MAX 8, Malaysia Airlines has introduced the type to its network and operations on Monday. The arrival of the MAX marks a new chapter in the airline’s history as it renews and grows its fleet.

MAX 8 with registration 9M-MVA departed Boeing Field on November 13 and flew in 21 hours to Kuala Lumpur via Honolulu and Guam. The aircraft got the traditional welcome from the fire brigade, airline executives, and other dignitaries on Thursday last week. After four days of preparations, the MAX entered service on Monday on the KL to Koti Kinabalu route. Since then, she has done five rotations on this route.

MVA is the first of 25 MAX 8s to join Malaysia Airlines Berhad via Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The airline signed a contract with ALC

in February 2022. Malaysia Airlines had originally ordered 25 MAX 8s or -9s directly with Boeing at the 2016 Farnborough Airshow for delivery in 2020. Following the grounding of the type after the two fatal accidents in 2018 and 2019, deliveries were rescheduled to start in 2024.