Malaysia Airlines’ parent company has admitted that the new jets it is counting on are not turning up on time. Speaking on November 12 on the sidelines of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ 70th Assembly of Presidents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Aviation Group chief executive Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar said deliveries were running late “not by years, but by months,” and pinned the problem on supply-chain constraints at the manufacturers.
Months matter more than they sound. The group wants to grow passenger capacity by 8 percent in 2027 and add up to three new destinations, which it has not yet named. Because tickets typically go on sale three to six months before a route starts, every slipped delivery shrinks the window to market new flying with confidence, and raises the odds of last-minute aircraft swaps or trimmed frequencies once bookings are already in.
The fleet story is still moving forward. Bernama and Bloomberg report that the group aims to finalise a multibillion-dollar order for 20 Boeing 787s as soon as this month, with plans for replacing its long-range widebodies expected in December 2026. Revenue is up 14 percent year on year, yet margins sit just under 1 percent in 2026, against a more typical 2 to 3 percent.
The reason is fuel. Jet fuel is running roughly 90 percent above pre-war levels, and average fares have climbed 20 to 30 percent as a result. For travellers, the takeaway is to expect Malaysia Airlines’ 2027 schedule to arrive cautiously, and to keep an eye on equipment changes on newly launched routes. If the planes do show up as planned, Kuala Lumpur could gain a handful of fresh nonstop options next year.
Sources: Malay Mail / Bernama, The Edge Malaysia
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