In 1968, Boeing delivered three 707 jetliners to national carrier Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (formerly Malayan Airways Limited). In 1969, Malaysia Airlines became the first 737-100 Southeast Asia customer with the purchase of five aircraft to replace the Comet 4.
Malaysia Airlines was also one of Boeing’s first 777 customers in Southeast Asia. The airline’s first 777 — the Super Ranger — set world records for speed and distance in April 1997, flying around the world in 41 hours, 59 minutes, covering more than 37,000 kilometers.
Over the years, Malaysia Airlines has taken delivery of more than 160 Boeing airplanes, including 100 737s. In 2022, the airline announced an order for up to 25 737 MAX airplanes in cooperation with Air Lease Corporation (ALC).
Batik Air Malaysia (rebranded from Malindo Air in 2022), a joint venture between the National Aerospace & Defence Industries of Malaysia and Lion Air of Indonesia, operates 737-800s as well as the 737-8. The airline took delivery of the first 737-8 in May 2017, conducting the aircraft’s first commercial 737-8 flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on May 22, 2022. Batik’s Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne route is one of the world’s longest scheduled nonstop flights flown by the 737-8.
