Malaysia Airlines Grounds New A330neo After Inaugural Flight; Airbus and Rolls-Royce Investigate

By Loshinniy Nair S. Baskaran,

23rd December: Malaysia Airlines has grounded its newly acquired Airbus A330neo following its inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne on December 19, 2024. The decision was made after the aircraft experienced technical issues during the return flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Airbus and Rolls-Royce, the manufacturers of the aircraft and its engines respectively, are collaborating with Malaysia Airlines to investigate and resolve the problem.The A330neo is a key component of Malaysia Airlines’ fleet modernization strategy, aimed at enhancing fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

The airline had planned to deploy the A330neo on various long-haul routes to improve operational efficiency. The grounding of the aircraft is expected to cause minimal disruption to Malaysia Airlines’ flight schedules, as contingency plans have been implemented to accommodate affected passengers.

Malaysia Airlines remains committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and is working closely with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to ensure the A330neo returns to service promptly. The airline has assured passengers that safety is its top priority and that it will provide updates as the situation develops, as stated in Malaymail.