KUALA LUMPUR: Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), the engineering arm of Capital A Bhd, will build integrated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
ADE chief executive officer Mahesh Kumar said the new facility would be capable of handling both narrowbody and widebody aircraft.
Mahesh said ADE was keen to expand its capabilities beyond the current types of aircraft that it performs maintenance on.
"We are confident in our overall prospects to disrupt the aircraft maintenance industry in Asean creating jobs as we grow and delivering significant economic benefits across the value supply chain," he said in a joint statement today.
The facilities will be built on 20.25 acres of land located within the KLIA Aeronautical Support Zone 1 (ASZ 1) under the Malaysia Airports' KLIA Aeropolis development.
The development will lick off in the middle of 2022 and is expected to complete within two years.
At maturity, the new state-of-the-art facilities will be able to provide heavy MRO services for up to 14 commercial aircraft at any time.
This will include dedicated component workshops and a digital product development centre, making ADE the biggest MRO provider in Malaysia and one of the largest in the region.
Mahesh said ADE was on the right track to support the growing demand in the region by covering the entire MRO process from the nose to tail of an aircraft.
"Including the delivery of robust line and base maintenance, workshop and engineering support services alongside integrated digital solutions - all underpinned by AirAsia's DNA of providing superior quality services at the lowest cost with fastest turnaround time.
"We thank Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for their ongoing support which is well aligned with our strategy to not only further strengthen our position in the market but to also propel Malaysia to be the key strategic hub for aircraft maintenance in the region," he said.
MAHB managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said among the aims of the company's Aeropolis development was to realise Malaysia's goal in becoming regional aerospace and cargo hubs.
Iskandar said towards this end, the KLIA ASZ 1 was a designated area focused on supporting critical aeronautical activities and operations of airlines and cargo operators.
"Notable operators include Airbus MRO subsidiary - Sepang Aircraft Engineering, Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub and the upcoming DHL Express, whilst local operators include local airlines, cargo terminal operators and ground handlers.
"The presence of ADE at ASZ 1 further diversifies the capabilities and expertise available at KLIA.
"Additional job creation for high level roles such as engineers and technical staff will also contribute towards stimulating the country' economy," he added.