KUALA LUMPUR: Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd (Malindo Air) is expected to gradually take delivery of 10 units of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from its parent Lion Air Group from early next year.
The decision came after the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia’s (CAAM) approval to allow operators/airlines to operate the B737 MAX in Malaysia, an internal source said.
The source said Malindo Air was preparing to reinstate the B737 MAX services in Malaysia and closely working with CAAM to rectify the airline’s airworthiness permit to resume operating the aircraft.
Malindo Air had initially taken the first B737 MAX on May 22, 2017 with scheduled flights to destinations including Australia, China, India and Asean countries.
“At the moment, Malindo Air is ready for the commercial reintroduction of the B737 MAX in anticipation of the market rebound in domestic tourism and international tourism,” the source told the New Straits Times (NST) when contacted recently.
Malindo Air had projected a complete rebound in the domestic market by the year-end, followed by a gradual recovery of the international market by December 2021 or January 2022, the source added.
“However, the recovery of international market will be gradual at selected cities in Asean, Australia, China, and India, depending on the borders reopening.”
The source said the hybrid-full service carrier could recruit local staff, including pilots and cabin crew to accommodate the additional B737 MAX in its fleet.
“Initially, it will bring in 10 aircraft from the total 20 planes allocated by the group. After that, it aims to gradually recruit up to 1,500 employees to accommodate the 10 aircraft,” the source said.
Depending on configuration, typically, each B737 MAX has between162 and 170 seats, with a capacity of 162 seats, requires about 100 employees to operate the aircraft from the pilot, cabin crew, ground handler, engineer and technician.
The utilisation of MAX aircraft suits Malindo Air’s sustainability plan to reduce carbon footprint and cut fuel consumption.
“B737 MAX aircraft uses 15 per cent less fuel and is in line with our effort to reduce carbon emission and fuel usage,” the source said.
Demand for air travel has remained weak globally since the early start of the pandemic in 2020 with no sign of abating, exacerbated by the closure of international borders to combat the infection rate.
Malindo Air had undertaken a massive cost-cutting exercise to remain afloat, given the considerable erosion in its cash flows caused by the pandemic.
Malindo Air had downsized its aircraft fleet to just about three units of the B737-800 and 12 units of the ATR72-600, while retaining a total workforce of about 1,000 employees.
Malindo Air currently offers international services such as Kathmandu (Nepal), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Guangzhou (China) and Jakarta (Indonesia), while domestic routes comprising Penang, Langkawi, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Last Thursday, CAAM announced its decision to allow the operations of B737 MAX 8 after the aircraft was suspended from operating in Malaysia on March 13, 2019.
The B737 MAX 8 aircraft can resume operations in Malaysia following the CAAM Safety Directive 01/2021 – Operations of Boeing 737-8/-9 (MAX), dated September 2, 2021.
CAAM said this revoked the previous safety directive issued on March 13, 2019, prohibiting B737 MAX 8 in Malaysia.
“This new directive applies to both Malaysian and foreign air operators that intend to conduct commercial flights with the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into, within or out of Malaysian airspace,” said CAAM chief executive officer Captain Chester Voo Chee Soon.
The source said India had recently lifted the suspension of the B737 MAX aircraft, followed by Malaysia while expecting neighbouring countries in Asean, China, India, and Australia to follow suit.
Meanwhile, former Malaysia Airlines flight operations director Captain Mohd Kamil Abu Bakar said the future would still be full of uncertainties, depending totally on the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There should be no problem of using the B737 MAX aircraft. It is still the same plane as the old version of B737, except fitted with new engines.
“Systems and operations wise, they are similar, that pilots can hop from one to the other with no additional training. There are no differences at all in the operating procedures,” he told the NST.
Captain Kamil said the B737 MAX version was recently built and were fitted with a larger and more efficient engine.
“This is the one with the design problem resulting in two crashes and them subsequently being grounded throughout the world.
“The new larger engine, which delivered a further 14 per cent fuel efficiency, had to be fitted further forward under the low wings of the B737.
“This potentially may cause the aircraft to stall because of very high nose attitude during take-off and initial climb. Stalling is dangerous because of low speed and loss of lift; the plane stops flying and will fall to the ground (or sea),” he explained.
He said the aircraft needs to be utilised as they all belong to Lion Air Group. However, Malindo Air should study the market and operate only when they are assured there is load.
“It also does not make economic sense to operate with a poor load. They will lose more money. The operating cost would be much higher revenue acquired,” he added.
Source: New Straits Times
