PETALING JAYA, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will take delivery of 35 firm orders of B737-800 aircraft from the fourth quarter of next year which will be used for domestic routes, Asean countries, South Asia and China.

"It has the option for another 20 planes," said MAS managing director and chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin told a media briefing.

He said MAS will take delivery of six A380 aircraft beginning 2011 which will be flown for high-density destinations such as London, Sydney and Amsterdam.

Tengku Azmil also said MAS would continue to pursue structural cost reduction with a target to cut down RM700 million this year.

He said MAS' cargo unit, MASkargo, aims to return to profitability next year while MAS Aerospace Engineering targets to achieve RM1 billion revenue by next year and RM3 billion in 2013.

The airline also aims to trim down overtime by 10 per cent next year while recruitment will be done only in critical areas, he added.

-- BERNAMA