A DEAL between Malaysia Airlines Bhd to purchase eight Boeing 787 jets has lapsed, Reuters reported today.

The airline, however, said today it was in talks with Boeing over the future of its widebody fleet.

Last year, Malaysia Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing to purchase the 787 jets valued at US$2.25 billion (RM9.3 billion).

The lapse of the MoU was first reported by the Edge Weekly and confirmed by a Malaysia Airlines spokesman today. 

Malaysia Airlines chief executive officer Izham Ismail told the Edge Weekly that the airline had issued a request for information from Boeing for new generation widebody jets.

Without specifying how many it intended to buy, Izham said any order decision would be made in the fourth quarter at the earliest.

The airline has an all-Airbus widebody fleet including A330s, A350s and A380s.

Last month, the airline said it was facing pressure from higher fuel prices, foreign exchange volatility and overcapacity in the domestic market and a pilot shortage, but it was putting in place strategies to return to a profit next year, Reuters reported. – September 26, 2018.