Malaysia Airlines A330neo grounded after just 2 days

Malaysia Airlines Grounds New Airbus A330neo Shortly After Inaugural Flight

Malaysia Airlines has temporarily grounded its newly delivered Airbus A330-900neo, registered as 9M-MNG, just days after its first commercial flight due to technical issues. The aircraft, which entered service on December 19, 2024, operating the Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne route, experienced multiple problems related to factory production and delivery quality.

As a result, the scheduled flight on December 21 was canceled, and the aircraft has remained grounded since. Malaysia Airlines’ Group Managing Director, Izham Ismail, expressed his disappointment, calling the situation "embarrassing" for a brand-new aircraft. He urged Airbus and Rolls-Royce, the manufacturer of the Trent 7000 engines, to investigate and resolve the issues promptly.

Airbus has committed to addressing the problems alongside Rolls-Royce, which identified a faulty electrical component as the initial cause. Efforts are underway to replace the component and return the aircraft to service.

The grounded A330-900neo is the first of 20 aircraft ordered by Malaysia Airlines as part of its fleet modernization program. These aircraft, featuring a two-class configuration with 28 business-class seats and 269 economy seats, are intended to replace the airline's aging A330-300 fleet. Malaysia Airlines expects the delivery of all 20 A330neos to be completed by 2028, enhancing operational efficiency and passenger comfort.