AirAsia announced the formation of Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), a wholly-owned subsidiary, which will provide engineering services for its carriers as well as other commercial airlines in the region.
The formation of Asia Digital Engineering as a regional MRO service provider by AirAsia bodes well with the National Transport policy, as the government seeks to facilitate the growth of all aviation support services to enhance Malaysia’s competitiveness in air cargo operation, said Minister of Transport Malaysia YB Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Group CEO Tony Fernandes said all AirAsia engineers and MRO assets will be consolidated to provide a centralised technical support service for AirAsia's fleet, and potentially for other commercial airlines in the near future.
“Asia Digital Engineering expands our existing expertise in aircraft engineering and is well-positioned to become Asia’s leading data and technology-driven Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service provider for all commercial airlines in the region, starting with the AirAsia group of airlines,” said Fernandes.
He went on to say that the “new business division provides numerous efficiencies and will leverage off [AirAsia's]combined 19 years of experience in operating and maintaining a large fleet of over 250 Airbus A320 and A330 family aircraft.”
The new subsidiary will be based at the Group's global headquarters in Sepang, Malaysia. The subsidiary will provide line maintenance, engineering support, component and warehouse services, digital and innovation services.
CEO of Asia Digital Engineering Mahesh Kumar said, “I am honoured for the opportunity by the AirAsia management to lead this new business unit which has just received the Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). We would like to thank CAAM and other relevant authorities for believing in us as we push the envelope in all areas of commercial aviation, which includes air transport services, passenger services, and now, MRO services for airlines.”
ADE will embark on the Industry 4.0 digital transformation journey, embracing the future by leveraging on the latest technologies in automation, big data analytics, predictive maintenance, machine learning and artificial intelligence to effectively increase productivity and efficiency while maintaining a high level of safety, quality and airworthiness of the fleet with a target of 10% reduction in maintenance costs.
