Page 24 - AAA JUNE - JULY 2017 Online Magazine

FeAture NEW AIRCRAFT

Maximum Effect

Boeing’s 737MAX Enters Service with Malindo Air
By Atul Chandra

mALAYsiAn AirLine mALindo Air Air’s CEO after taking delivery of the first Malindo Air is also the first airline to operate
(Derived from Malaysia and Indonesia) aircraft. “Malindo Air will be undergoing a CFM International LEAP-1B (Leading Edge
became the first airline worldwide to put re-branding to Batik Malaysia in the second Aviation Propulsion) engines, which will
the 737 MAX into commercial service in the half of this year. Therefore, you can see our deliver a 15 percent improvement in fuel
month of May. The airline took delivery of the first MAX 8 comes in Batik Malaysia livery,” consumption and CO2 emissions compared
first 737 MAX 8 jetliner at Boeing’s Seattle he added. Malindo Air was named CAPA’s to the CFM56-7B engines. CFM International,
Delivery Center on May 16 and received its 2016 Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year a 50/50 joint company between GE and
second aircraft on May 24. Malindo Air has and has chosen to configure its MAX 8s in Safran Aircraft Engines has received
already commenced commercial operations 180-seat single-class layout. “The aircraft total orders for more than 12,300 engines
with the new aircraft. It will receive two will be mainly used for scheduled charters belonging to the LEAP Family. Passengers
more 737 MAX 8s before the end of the year to China and flights to north India Pakistan, travelling onboard the 737 MAX 8 are sure to
and has a total of eight on order. “We are Bangladesh and Nepal,” says Rama Muthy. appreciate the new Boeing Sky Interior, which
thrilled to be the world’s first airline to take Malindo Air started operations in March 2013 features modern sculpted sidewalls and
delivery and operate the 737 MAX 8. The and operates a fleet of Boeing 26 737-900ERs window reveals (windows are more than 20
Boeing 737NG fleet has served Malindo well and 737-800s (all powered by CFM56—7B percent larger than on the A320neo), variable
in its growth and we believe that the 737 MAX engines), in addition to ATR72-600 regional colour LED illumination that enhances the
aircraft will become the center piece of our transport aircraft. The 737 MAX is designed sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting
fleet,” said Chandran Rama Muthy, Malindo to be 40 percent quieter than today’s 737NG. overhead stowage bins.

24 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE JUNE / JULY 2017 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA