Malaysia Airlines reportedly has been seeking to replace older aircraft such as the Boeing 777-200 that was reported missing early Saturday on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
A Reuters report last month said the airline was awaiting government approval of a multibillion-dollar order for Airbus and Boeing aircraft to replace its older Airbus A330s and Boeing 777-200s. The report said the airline hoped to save on fuel costs and reduced maintenance. The company has lost money the past two years, Bloomberg reported in November.
The airline currently has more than 100 aircraft, according to its website, including 15 Boeing 777-200s.
The oldest 777 in the fleet was purchased in 1997 and the newest in 2001, putting the average age at about 14 years.