Malaysia Airlines welcomed its brand new Boeing 737-8 aircraft on November 16, 2023 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
The aircraft, with assigned 9M-MVA, was welcomed with a grand water salute after flying from Seattle, United States.
In a Facebook post Boeing revealed the aircraft is the first B737-8 to be delivered to Malaysia Airlines, and said that this is the first B737-8 to be delivered to Malaysia Airlines, and that the livery features a songket motif that pays tribute to the country’s cultural heritage.
The airline also announced the full restoration of its in-flight service offerings after almost two months of having no in-flight catering contract.
On September 1, 2023, Malaysia Airlines ended its 26-year contract with Brahim’s Food Services (BFS), without having lined up a new caterer. For months, the airline was plagued with questions and criticisms as some flights fell short when it came to the onboard dining service, a far cry from the years when it won best signature dish awards.
The airline said it resumed full in-flight meal service on November 1, 2023, following the delivery of 10 hi-lifts which commenced operations at the end of October 2023.
Malaysia Airlines said that as part of its catering business continuity plan, it established a temporary distribution center – the MAG Catering Operations (MCAT) – to manage the assembly of F&B items and the uplifting of meals onboard via hi-lift trucks.
The airline is now self-handling an average of 18,000 meals daily, collaborating with its catering partners to maintain the highest standards of quality and service.
“As a global airline, Malaysia Airlines sets high standards for our product offerings and services onboard – being the embassy on wings for the country and the champion for Malaysian Hospitality. We underwent this much needed transition in our onboard catering to improve our offerings and service delivery whilst growing our capabilities, with customers maintaining as our centre of gravity,” Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said in a press statement.
Ismail added: “In addition, we have received positive feedback from customers on our meal offerings, with some crowd favorites even being uplifted on more of our flights. We remain steadfast to innovation, safety, and the highest standards of customer satisfaction. We will continue to strengthen our core proposition as a premium airline, with a commitment to elevate the onboard dining experience by providing more options, curated offerings and variety for all our guests.”