Malaysia Airlines looks to profit from China’s Boeing halt

Name: China supports new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, 11 years after its disappearance
Uploaded: 2025-04-21T03:51:35.000Z
Duration: 2 min
Description: China supports new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, 11 years after its disappearance

Malaysia’s national carrier is reportedly in talks to snap up delivery slots vacated by Chinese airlines amid trade tensions with the US

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Malaysia Airlines planes are seen on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Photo: Reuters

Bloomberg

Published: 11:51am, 21 Apr 2025Updated: 12:07pm, 21 Apr 2025

Malaysia Aviation Group is in talks with Boeing to potentially take over delivery slots vacated by Chinese carriers as the US-China trade war heats up, according to reports.

The parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines may tap the capital market to fund any successful bids for Boeing’s slots as it looks to expedite the modernisation of its ageing fleet, Izham Ismail, chief executive officer, told local news agency Bernama on Sunday.

The planes must meet the carrier’s cabin requirements, he was quoted as saying.

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China supports new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, 11 years after its disappearance

The carrier’s interest comes after Beijing reportedly ordered its airlines to halt receipt of Boeing aircraft and suspend purchases of aviation equipment and parts from US companies.

Boeing appears to be returning some of its 737 Max jets to the US from China, where it had placed them ahead of delivery to Chinese customers.

Neither Boeing nor China has commented on why the jets are returning, and it is not clear which party made the decision.

If Boeing delivery slots become available as a result of the tariff war between the US and China, Malaysia Aviation Group views this as a window to secure earlier-than-expected deliveries, Izham Ismail was quoted as saying.