MAS buys aircraft engines

MAS buys aircraft engines

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia Airline System Bhd. said yesterday it had finalized an order with Britain's Rolls-Royce Aerospace Group to buy Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines for 15 Boeing 777 aircraft.

The national carrier did not reveal the price of the engines.

Malaysia Airlines managing director Wan Malek Ibrahim said in a statement the acquisition of 15 B777 and 10 B747 aircraft announced earlier this year was part of a fleet modernization and rationalization program.

"We are looking towards the delivery of the first B777-200 aircraft to be powered with the Trent 892 engine in April 1997, which, incidentally, will be the first long-range version in Southeast Asia," he said.

Wan Malek added that the selection of the Trent 892 engine to power the new aircraft reflected the airline's confidence in its capability and outstanding performance.

Malaysia Airlines' stock closed 10 sen (four cents) lower at 7.45 ringgit on the local bourse yesterday.