SEPANG (March 22): Malaysia Airlines Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd, has issued a request for information (RFI) from aircraft makers on the national carrier's aircraft needs as it resumes its long-haul growth in 2018.

Group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said the airline plans to get the request for proposal (RFP) for new aircraft out soon, and expects a firm decision to order to come by the middle of this year.

"We have issued a RFI recently, but we have not decided on the aircraft type yet. We are looking for new generation widebody aircraft," he told reporters after the media sneak preview of its new brand campaign at its newly refurbished Golden Lounge in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today.

"The aircraft manufacturers are now working with our team to understand what our future network needs are. We are now in RFI mode going to RFP mode soon," he added.

Izham declined to disclose whether the airline will be purchasing or leasing the new aircraft nor the routes targeted, except to say that he hopes to conclude with a direction by the middle of this year.

"Twenty five years from now and beyond I see Malaysia Airlines having more than 100 planes with a combination of narrowbody and widebody planes," he added. The airline currently has a fleet of 81 aircraft.

Earlier, the airline unveiled its new brand campaign called "Rebranded Malaysian Hospitality Begins With Us".

The introduction of the campaign will see the airline releasing a new television commercial in the coming weeks, in print ad and outdoor, as well as across all social media platforms. The brand campaign will also be expanded beyond Malaysia.

"Malaysian Hospitality encompasses all aspects of customer experience which and has already been reflected in its products and services including the newly refurbished lounges in KLIA, various digital innovations, new widebody aircraft and the introduction of the latest Best of Malaysia menu on-board," Izham said.

"We have already started in earnest, training over 300 front line staff in service excellence to ensure the Malaysian Hospitality is part of their DNA," he added.