Malaysian Airline orders 55 jets from Boeing

The airline has ordered 35 Boeing aircraft, with an option for another 20. It may also swap the B737-800 series with the larger B737-900 aircraft. Idris Jala, CEO of Malaysian Airline System, has said that the company expects to get its first aircraft from the order by September 2010. The aircraft are expected to be used mainly for the domestic sector, Southeast Asian routes and to China and India. Reuters has quoted Mr Jala as saying: "We will likely partially purchase the Boeing 737-800 on our own and partially lease them as that would give us the flexibility to manage our balance sheet and financing commitments, and sell some of them when the timing is right." The airline will also take delivery of six A380 superjumbos in 2011 from Airbus but after reaching a compromise on compensation for the delay. The planes were originally scheduled to be delivered within two years from January 2007.