MAS close to deal for more widebody Airbus planes

MAS is close to signing deals for six or seven second-hand widebody A330 planes for its fleet this year as it seeks to grow on international routes amidst good demand for summer bookings, its CE said Sunday. Malaysia Airlines has been in talks with airlines and leasing companies about bringing in used widebody planes to replace the single-aisle planes it currently flies on some five-hour flights, such routes as to India, China and Hong Kong. "We've found the planes, we're in the process of doing due diligence," Peter Bellew said. He said he hopes to sign a deal in July and the planes, which have Wi-Fi and lie-flat seats in business, could enter the airline's fleet by the end of the year. Bookings for the next six months are looking good and yields - a measure of revenue per passenger - are up around 10 percent from a year earlier in June, July and August after coming under pressure at the start of the year, Bellew said. Uncertainty over failed travel bans in the US and political turmoil in Europe has driven demand from travelers in the Middle East and India, Bellew said. "We've seen a significant upturn in business from India because of that and I think that's only set to continue," he said. MAS had offered to lease some A330s from Alitalia, in the event the struggling carrier collapsed. However, Bellew said it seemed Alitalia would survive as an airline operating medium and long-haul flights and so those planes would not become available.<br/>