Malaysia Airlines' new Airbus A330neo lands in Sydney

Malaysia Airlines' new Airbus A330neo aircraft touched down at Sydney Airport for the first time on August 18. The aircraft will strengthen its service on the Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route and launch its third daily flight on August 30, bringing its annual capacity to over 630,000 passengers. This figure is the highest ever for any Australian airport.

The two-class A330neo features 28 Business Class seats and 24 Economy Class seats with 269 extra legroom seats. With the new service, Malaysia Airlines will offer 21 return flights per week until October.

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton highlighted the significance of the agreement, saying: “This new A330neo service comes as Australia and Malaysia expand their air traffic rights for the first time in many years. Seat capacity has been increased from 36,000 to 50,000 per week, with unlimited seating capacity expected in 2026. This provides greater choice for passengers and new opportunities for tourism, trade, and investment.”

Dersenish Aresandiran, Commercial Director of Malaysia Aviation Group Airlines, emphasized that the A330neo offers both an environmentally friendly and comfortable travel experience, saying, “It's exciting for us to land in Sydney for the first time with an A330neo. This aircraft represents the future of our fleet. We look forward to introducing more passengers to Malaysian hospitality.”

The third daily service adds to the more than 2 million international seats added by 20 airlines at Sydney Airport in the last 12 months, with capacity growth reaching 30% since February 2024.