As you were know,the back-bone of our flights are mostly Boeing 737 (Including AirAsia was excluded because they are now operating all-Airbus fleet,but hey,they were also operating 737s as well).
Anyhow,let's see the 737 Operational history in Malaysia,which can be traced back to 1969:
1969
De Havilland Comet 4s replaced by five B737-112s.First flight to Bali.
(Note:All of the 737-112s were transferred to Singapore Airlines during the separation of MSA.MSA acquired the last 30 of B737-100,before the production ceased by Boeing.MSA is the only Asian operator of B737-100.)
1972
23rd August-First B737-2H6/Adv delivered (9M-MBA).The aircraft was painted in new Malaysian Airline System (MAS) livery,due to the announcement of the separation of MSA into MAS and SIA-Singapore Airlines on Oct 1st,1972)
1974
8th February-B737 Award given by Boeing for dispatch realibility.
1977
4th December-Flight MH653 from Penang to Kuala Lumpur hijacked and crashed in Tanjung Kupang,Johor kiling all 100 people onboard the 737 aircraft.(Registration 9M-MBD)Remains the most deadliest air crash in Malaysia to this day.
1979
10th Nov-Received the ‘Boeing award for outstanding performance in the operations of B737s’ in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
1985
8th June-MAS took delivery of a new 737-200/Adv costing RM120 million.
1990
9th July-RM2.8 million computer-based training programme introduced for B737-400 pilots reducing conversion training from 5 weeks to 15 days.
1991
15th November-The crew of MH192 safely delivered a baby boy on the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu,a first for the airline.
1992
6th March-MAS received its fourth ‘Boeing Award for dispatch reliability’ of its B737 fleet.
4th May-Delivery of 52 B737-400/500 aircraft ordered.
14th May-Another 17 units of B737-400 ordered,making MAS the largest customer of the aircraft in the world (Outside United States).
17th July-First B737-500 (B737-5H6) aircraft delivered.
(Extracted from "Airborne-The evolution and birth of Malaysia Airlines",by Ranjit Gill.)
Current Status of B737 fleet:
All of the 737 in MAS fleet are 737-4H6,and one B737-4Q8.MAS had retired all 737-5H6s from its fleet.
MASKargo also operated B737-3H6F (9M-MMZ),and no longer in service
MAS also operates one B737-7H6WL Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) (9M-BBJ),under MASTAR brand.However,MASTAR brand ceases ops,and the BBJ was later transferred to Royal Malaysian Air Force under the registration M53-01.
2007
MAS leases 2 B737-800 (OK-TVC:-800WL & OK-TVD) from My Travel Services of Czech Republic.However,both of the aircraft were returned to the lessor after a short period.This leasing marks the beginning of the switching of 737 Classic series to 737NG (Next Generation) series.
2008
MAS announced the signing of agreement with Boeing on the purchase of 55 Boeing B737-800WLs during Farnborough Air Show.MH were also given option to keep the order or swapping the -800 series to -900ER series by Boeing.
2009
MAS leased 3 B737-800WLs (9M-MLA,9M-MLB,9M-MLC) before the arrival of their B737-8H6WLs.
Oct 2010
MAS will receive the B737-8H6WL.Prior to that,MAS currently operates 6 B737-800WLs on lease basis.1st B737-8H6WL (9M-MXA) wears new livery.
November 2010
1st B737-8H6 (9M-MXA) received.
MAS transferred 4 of its B738 (9M-MLA-MLD) to Firefly.
Type of Aircrafts
B737-112: MSA (Transferred to Singapore Airlines in 1972)
B737-200/Adv:MAS (retired.One of former aircraft is now operated by Sriwijaya Airlines of Indonesia)
B737-3H6F:MASKargo (retired.One of former aircraft is now operated by Europe Airpost)
B737-4H6/4Q8:MAS (Still in operation)
B737-5H6:MAS (retired.Most of the former aircraft are now operated by CSA and Aerolineas Argentinas.Air France used to operate the -5H6 series,before they are retired.CSA also looking forward to reduce or retire their B735s.)
B737-7H6 BBJ: MASTAR (Transferred to RMAF)
B737-800: MAS (2 previously leased from My Travel,6 currently operated on lease basis before the arrival of 1st B737-8H6 on 15 November 2010)
Meanwhile,besides than above,there are other operators of Boeing 737s,which are:
* Transmile Air Services (Boeing 737-200F)
* Neptune Air (Boeing 737-300F)
* AirAsia (Boeing 737-300; all retired from active duties;however some are transferred to Thai and Indonesian divisions)
Sorry if there any wrong info above; however,do let me know by contacting me,so i can edit the info above.
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