Malaysia's Firefly to grow fleet as network expands

Firefly plans to add seven more aircraft in phases over the next two to three years to boost its domestic, ASEAN, and Asia-Pacific capacity, according to Izham Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of Firefly parent Malaysia Airlines. “Domestic travel and short distance flights are expected to be in high demand, and this will meet the northern region’s growing demand with Penang as Firefly’s new hub,” he told reporters after seeing off the resumption of a B737-800 service from Penang on April 11, 2022. “Additional Firefly aircraft in the next two to three years are expected to expand its flight network and at the same time introduce new markets to draw passengers to Malaysia via Penang to boost the economy, trade, [and] tourism industries,” he said. Firefly briefly had narrowbody operations from Penang with B737-800s from its parent last year, but put the idea on hold after just three flights and returned all aircraft to Malaysian Airlines in July 2021. <br/>