Malaysia-based Malindo Air has received a new Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended range) jetliner from Boeing.
The new medium-range, narrow-body airliner marks the 7,500th 737 manufactured by Boeing.
Malindo Air’s 737-900ER features new Boeing Sky Interior, similar to the 787 Dreamliner, with modern sculpted sidewalls, LED lighting and larger pivoting overhead bins.
Powered by new CFM56-7B engines manufactured by CFM, the 737-900ER offers a 7% operating cost and 5% per seat-mile cost advantage, compared with rival aircraft in the segment, in addition to an economical cruise speed of .791Mach (525mph).
Malindo Air, which is a joint venture between National Aerospace and Defence Industries (NADI) of Malaysia and Lion Air of Indonesia, is set to commence operations in May this year.
Malindo Air will use the Next-Generation 737-900ER to launch its low-cost service. The carrier is expected to take delivery of 12 737-900ER jets with plans to increase its fleet further in the future.
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By GlobalDataInitially, it will operate domestic flights within Malaysia and will expand operations to other South East Asian countries.
Boeing stated that its 737 has logged more than 10,500 firm orders.
The company said that around 85% of the backlog of more than 3,100 Next-Generation 737s would be delivered with the Boeing Sky Interior.
In order to get through the backlog of orders, Boeing has ramped up the monthly production of Next-Generation 737 from 35 jetliners to 38, with a goal to increase it to 42 aeroplanes a month by 2014.
This week, the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer rolled out the first Next-Generation 737 built at the increased production rate.
Image: The Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER in EL AL livery. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.
