Boeing

Malaysia Airlines and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony March 4 unveiling the first of fifteen 777s ordered by the airline last year. During the ceremony, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group Senior Vice President Dan Heidt said, "Malaysia Airlines is the first of what is expected to be a large number of leading global airlines to announce their intent to purchase the new 777X family of aircraft. We are extremely proud to welcome Malaysia Airlines to the launch team for the new 777-200X. As a premier airline, we expect this endorsement, along with others, to satisfy our Board of Director's criteria for a formal launch authorization in the near future."

At the event, the executive chairman of Malaysia Airlines, Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli said, "We are very pleased to be the first customer to announce our intent to purchase the new 777-200X. Our market continues to expand significantly and we must plan today for further developments in the future."

He added, "The 777-200X is a magnificent airplane which builds upon the commonality of our current 777 fleet yet extends the range and comfort of our service to allow any destination in the world to be linked to Kuala Lumpur non-stop. This new product will support our international expansion well into the next century, while enhancing our profitability at the same time."

The new 777-200X is an ideal aircraft for Malaysia Airlines to take advantage of the increasing pace of liberalization and globalization in the airline industry.

Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli said that the airline would take advantage of the upcoming open sky policy between Malaysia and America "by providing non-stop capability from Kuala Lumpur to New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago."