From the end of January 2010, Fokker 70 aircraft of the Hungarian airline no longer carry out commercial flights in the Malév livery. This means that from February the fleet is structured on two aircraft types: Boeing 737 Next Generation jets and Bombardier Q400 turboprops. Fleet rationalization takes the airline one step closer to achieving its objective defined as the cornerstone of its business strategy and market growth, making Malév the leading airline in Central-Eastern Europe.
“Fulfilling commitments undertaken in 2009, Malév has successfully implemented simplification of its fleet to two types. In the course of consolidating the fleet we have withdrawn our five Fokker 70s from service and will be gradually returning them to the owner, AWAS Leasing Company. Thus this year Malév will be operating with a fleet comprising just two types: 18 Boeing 737 NGs and 4 Bombardier Q-400s carrying out regional services. This simplified fleet structure means a significant reduction in our company’s maintenance and operational costs, the positive impacts of which will be apparent even in 2010,” said Martin Gauss, the airline’s CEO.
In 2008 the airline fleet makeup was mixed, with the core of the fleet made up, naturally, of the new generation Boeing 737s, in addition to which there were also wide-bodied Boeing-767s, Fokker 70s, Bombardier CRJ-200 planes and indeed a newly arrived Bombardier Q400, all flying in Malév colours. Chief Executive Officer Martin Gauss launched the fleet simplification programme designed to simplify the heterogeneous fleet in summer 2009.
The first twin-engine Fokker 70 jet aircraft carrying out regional operations began flying in Malév livery at the end of 1995. HA-LMA flew to virtually every single Malév destination (with the exception of long-haul destinations), with its final flight being to Tirana in January. The plane was returned last week and will be followed by a further four Fokker 70s, which will be sent back to the leasing company – after necessary repairs and maintenance work – over the coming six months.
One of the types in the current Malév fleet is the Boeing 737 NG, the world’s most popular, medium-haul passenger aircraft. Flying alongside the Boeings in Malév colours are 72-seater Q-400s manufactured by Canadian company Bombardier. The turboprops represent a cost-effective solution in a difficult period when the price of kerosene fluctuates unpredictably and airfares are falling due to intense market competition and the global economic crisis. At the same time, the consolidated, simplified fleet structure will help the airline improve its market position.
