Malaysia Airlines (MAS) today played down reports that it was trying to sell some of its aircraft as part of a rehabilitation programme, following a year in which the firm lost two planes in separate disasters.

“Malaysia Airlines seeks to clarify the speculation on its fleet,” it said in a statement.

“Exploring fleet options to enhance viability of long-haul sectors is one area being looked into,” it added.

Yesterday aviation news website Leeham News and Comments said the beleaguered Malaysian national carrier is offering for sale or lease its six Airbus A380s, two Boeing 747-400Fs, four Airbus A330-200Fs and four Boeing 777-200ERs.

Industry sources also told Flightglobal, another industry portal, that MAS had started marketing some of its “Boeing 777-200ERs and Airbus A330-200 Freighters to potential purchasers”.

MAS suffered two deadly tragedies last year. On March 8, Beijing-bound flight MH370 disappeared one hour after take off from Kuala Lumpur, and was presumed to have crashed into the sea. On July 17, flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down and crashed over eastern Ukraine.

- dpa