​Malindo Air will embark on an extensive expansion program this year and onwards by increasing its fleet of turboprops for its domestic operations particularly routes from its hub in Subang, as well as Penang.
During the first half of this year, Malindo Air has taken delivery of 5 ATR 72-600 turboprops with another scheduled delivery of five more similar aircraft later this year. By next year, its turboprop fleet will grow to a total of 13. The airline also keeps a fleet of 8 B737-900ER jetliners.
The airline was not expected to keep a fleet of turboprops this much for most of its domestic operations, but it has reconsidered its decision in order to serve routes where most rivals ignore due primarily to their being not economically viable for A320 operations. Its major rival is AirAsia, which fly to almost all key destinations in Malaysia.
With the turboprop operations on short distances, Malindo Air's direct competitor is Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines. Firefly has been expanding its operations, particularly from its hub in Subang.
Before the year ends, Malindo Air will open its second turboprop operation base in Penang. It is also eyeing to open more turboprop bases, especially in the eastern state cities of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and Kuching in Sarawak, both in the island of Borneo.
The future bases will serve new routes which don't presently have air link to any major Malaysian city.
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