Summary
- Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) was founded by AirAsia as a brand new MRO business to service their very own fleet and other airlines, making the most of the high demand for maintenance slots in Asia.
- ADE has been successful, completing its a hundredth C-Check in record time and achieving a 107% year-on-year revenue growth.
- ADE plans to expand its offerings by incorporating digital solutions and data science into MRO, and is constructing a brand new hangar in Kuala Lumpur to accommodate as much as 14 narrowbody aircraft.
When borders were reopened, we heard much about supply chain disruptions hampering airlines as they struggled to bring parked or stored aircraft back into service. While some parts were briefly supply, essentially the most significant issue has been finding slots at maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. This was particularly the case in Asia, where demand far outstripped supply.
Capital A seized the chance
Tony Fernandes and his team at Capital A, the parent of AirAsia, saw this issue as a possibility, and in September 2020, founded wholly-owned subsidiary Asia Digital Engineering (ADE). This could be a brand new MRO business set as much as service the fleets of AirAsia and to source work from other airlines.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The choice to establish a brand new aviation business within the depths of COVID-19 was daring and prescient, and last week, a fresh announcement highlighted just how successful ADE has been for the AirAsia Group and Capital A. On December 7, which happened to be International Civil Aviation Day, ADE accomplished its a hundredth C-Check on a 2019 Airbus A321neo. The aircraft is registered 9M-VAA and has MSN 09139, carrying the distinctive livery.
Marking the occasion, Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes praised the ADE team and said the business has emerged because the jewel within the crown for Capital A, posting third-quarter revenue of RM165 million ($35.4m), a 107% year-on-year growth.
“We imagine ADE can develop into one in every of the world’s best MRO service providers given its vast experience and knowledge from working with AirAsia and now also with third-party airlines.
“It has the potential to grow further because it expands its offerings by bringing digital solutions and data science into MRO, offering predictive maintenance and spare parts management.”
Constructing on the experience and expertise of AirAisa’s Engineering Department, ADE is carving out a solid area of interest, with a powerful deal with Airbus A320, A321 and A330 aircraft. Its MRO capabilities include engineering maintenance, component and warehouse services, and other support services.
ADE is establishing for a huge impact
AirAsia said that completing 100 C-Checks in lower than 2.5 years is “a record timeframe” and consequently positions ADE as a number one MRO player within the Asian region. A C-Check is thought to be a heavy check involving a comprehensive maintenance inspection of critical components and systems that ensures the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft.
Photo: Jaggat Rashidi I Shutterstock
Doing these critical checks demands extensive tooling, test equipment, and special skill levels – a testament to the group’s commitment to upholding safety and operational standards equal to any on the planet. ADE has passed many milestones since 2020, and more recently, it attained the EASA Part 145 approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, adding to its impressive list of regulatory certifications and authorizations.
Having built that credibility, ADE is looking ahead by expanding its MRO capabilities to deliver exceptional services and keep its place on the forefront of the MRO industry across the Asia-Pacific region. A key a part of those ambitions is increasing its MRO footprint within the region to expand capability and open more slots.
ADE is constructing a brand new hangar at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), which is anticipated to be operational by the third quarter of 2024. This can be a major project for ADE and AirAsia, as the brand new facility will probably be large enough to concurrently accommodate as much as 14 narrowbodies. ADE also plans to expand its line maintenance operations in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia next yr.