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Malaysia Airlines yesterday took delivery of its 13th Boeing 777-200 aircraft in Seattle, United States of America.
The official handing over of the aircraft was held at Boeing's Commercial Airplanes Delivery Centre in Everett, Seattle, following the signature of documents by representatives from both Malaysia Airlines and Boeing. Encik Md Roslan Ismail, Malaysia Airlines General Manager for Engineering & Maintenance signed on behalf the airline, while Boeing was represented by Mr David J Hilby, its Regional Director, Aircraft Contracts.
The event was witnessed by Encik Abdul Rahim Mokti from the Malaysian Ministry of Finance who is also the Director of Aircraft Business Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Mr Low Chee Teng, Malaysia Airlines Assistant General Manager, Treasury and Investment and Mr Paul Dubeck, Regional
Director International Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The latest Boeing 777-200 to join Malaysia Airlines' fleet is of the Extended Range (ER) version capable of flying 7730 nautical miles (14316 kilometers) non-stop. It
embarked on its ferry flight from Seattle at 1100 hours/4 June 2002 on a flight path over Alaska, North Pacific, Southern Japan, Taiwan and Pekan, Pahang before finally landing in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 2000 hours on 5 June 2002.
The addition of the B777-200 to Malaysia Airlines' existing fleet is timely as it complements the airline's aggressive drive to provide additional capacity through increased frequencies to key long haul markets.
The Boeing 777-200 is the most technologically advanced commercial twin-jet aircraft, featuring fuel efficient engines, faster cruising speed and an enhanced flight deck that increases flight crew performance. Its design also reduces noise levels during take off and decreases emission of hydrocarbon while cruising.
With the addition of this B777-200 aircraft in its fleet, Malaysia Airlines now operates a total of 102 aircraft ranging from the 361-seater Boeing 747-400 for long haul operations to the 12-seater Twin Otter used for its Rural Air Services in East Malaysia. The company has an additional four aircraft on order, comprising two B777-200 for delivery in 2005 and two B747-400 aircraft to be delivered in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
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