On November 18, 1988, Malév's first Boeing B-737-200, and the BAe-146-200-QT rented by TNT-Malév Express Cargo Ltd. arrived at Ferihegy. The latter was operated by Malév flight crew and technical staff for five years. With this, Malév's fleet modernization program got underway.
Following a Malév management decision to go with the Boeing aircraft family, by 1995 twelve of the American manufacturer's B-737 versions were flying in Malév livery. This allowed for the gradual withdrawal of Tupolev aircraft from scheduled passenger traffic.
Within the plans for the development of the network, Malév ordered two B-767-200ER aircraft suitable for long haul flights. They came into service in spring 1993. Malév established scheduled air flights between Budapest and New York with these aircraft.
In the 1990s, the Hungarian national air carrier went through a series of organizational changes. After a break of 50 years, from the summer of 1992 Malév has once again been operating in joint stock company form. Also in this year the movement towards privatization of the earlier 100% state-owned airline started. The Italian Alitalia airline and Simest investment bank took a 30+5% ownership stake in Malév, and following this Malév employees were also offered shares.
Aeroplex Ltd., Malév's and the Lockheed company's 50-50% owned joint venture, started operation at Ferihegy in the summer of 1992. The company was established to maintain and service Malév aircraft and those of other foreign airlines.The fact that the Ferihegy maintenance base received operational permission from the American (FAA) and the joint European (JAA) aviation authorities within a short time proves the professional skills of the Hungarian technicians and engineers.
Malév B-767 aircraft fly not only to New York but also to other parts of the world. Malév charter flights bring many thousands of Japanese tourists to Europe, and Malév charter flights with B-767 aircraft have also visited, for example, Chicago, Toronto, Kenya and Thailand.
While the Hungarian national air carrier seeks new markets, it always aims to maintain and strengthen its position on its traditional European routes. Bearing this in mind, Malév management agreed to extend the fleet with 75-person Fokker 70 aircraft in place of the Tu-134. The first F-70 entered Malév service in December 1995, and with the arrival of the other three Fokker aircraft Malév's fleet will consist of modern Western aircraft only.
Renewed joint stock company
As Malév celebrates its 50th jubilee it can be proud of its past achievements, but even so life goes on.
The reorganization program started in the autumn of 1995 received the title MA2000 - a symbolic flight number - and through which Malév can begin in 1996 structural changes on which to base the company's long-term competitiveness. Parallel with this, the modernization of Malév's commercial activity continues along with the privatization of the airline, which will improve the company not only financially but will bring in new professional expertise.
In 1946, the capacity of Malév's predecessor Maszovlet was a total 115 seats. Today, this has increased to 3,200. Fifty years ago a 21-person Li-2 passenger aircraft flew at an altitude of 2-3000 meters at a speed of 230 km/hour, and a maximum flying range of barely 500 km. Today, Malév's B-767 aircraft fly at 12,000 meters at a speed of 950 km/hour, and can cover a distance of almost 13,000 km without having to refuel. In 1946, Maszovlet carried only 2,000 passengers, while last year Malév registered 1.6 million passengers.
Facts and figures prove that in the last 50 years Hungarian civil air traffic developed dynamically, even occasionally surpassing the world average. Malév always took an outstanding part in the development and maintenance of Hungary's international, political, economic, cultural and touristic relations.
Malév Hungarian Airlines' personnel understand full well the obligation their predecessors' work places on them. That is why they continue to provide an even more punctual and polite service for Malév passengers in order that everyone who travels with the airline leaves the flight fully satisfied.