MALAYSIA Airlines (3786) has placed a firm order with Airbus for two more A330-200F freighters, following the conversion of two existing options.

The latest contract increases the airline's firm orders for freighter aircraft to four.

The aircraft will be operated by its air freight arm, Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo).

The aircraft will be powered by PW4000 engines from Pratt & Whitney.
"We are confident that the A330-200F is set to become a game changer in the mid-size freighter market," MASkargo managing director Shahari Sulaiman said in a statement yesterday.

"The aircraft will enable MASkargo to efficiently match capacity closely to demand on many medium lift sectors across our cargo network, and especially those operating via intra Asia," he added.

Airbus chief operating officer customers John Leahy said the additional order underscores the increasing popularity of the new A330-200F as it enters airline service.

The A330-200F is the latest addition to the A330 family.

Offering the lowest operating costs in its size category, it is the only modern mid-size, long haul, all-cargo aircraft capable of carrying 65 tonnes over 4,000nm/7,400km or 70 tonnes over 3,200nm/5,900km.

--Business Times