Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International) could consider the C919 during its next narrowbody fleet renewal cycle in the mid-2030s, but would prefer the type to secure certification from Western regulators before placing an order.

Malaysia Aviation Group airline business chief executive Bryan Foong told the South China Morning Post newspaper that the C919 was not ready in time for the airline's current fleet renewal programme. Malaysia Airlines has already committed its narrowbody requirements until approximately 2035.

"It is a credible fleet option, but it needs a bit more maturity," Foong said. "At that time, the C919 was not ready, it missed the window."

Foong said certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and preferably the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), would support acceptance of the aircraft in Malaysia and other countries served by the airline. Malaysia Airlines would also assess the type's performance and economics, while COMAC would need to develop sufficient MRO support across Southeast Asia.

The carrier maintains routine contact with COMAC but is not actively discussing an order, Foong said. The Chinese manufacturer has established a representative office in Singapore, while its smaller C909 regional jet is already operated in Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Malaysia Airlines has instead selected B737 MAX jets for its current narrowbody renewal. According to ch-aviation data, it has narrowbody commitments for twelve B737-10s and twenty-five more B737-8s.

The carrier operates a fleet of 94 aircraft, comprising three A330-200s, three A330-200Fs, thirteen A330-300s, ten A330-900Ns, seven A350-900s, eighteen B737-8s, and forty B737-800s.