Malaysia To Play Bigger Role In Global Aviation Market

By Christine Lim KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is poised to take a bigger share of the global aviation market for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and component manufacturing and rival its close contenders in the Asia Pacific. In this regard, Malaysia has the potential to be a heavyweight champion, based on its established reputation as a regional MRO player with world-class facilities. The country has become an important MRO centre with companies such as Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), Airod Sdn Bhd, Asia Aero Technics Sdn Bhd and Sepang Aircraft Engineering Sdn Bhd, providing heavy maintenance jobs for various types of aircraft. In aircraft component manufacturing, the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea have been suppliers of major components for Airbus and Boeing aircraft. But, Malaysia too has been expanding its manufacturing capability with several local companies, involved in producing key aircraft parts. The President of ATR Eastern Support Pte Ltd, Luigi Celmi said Malaysia's expertise and facilities in providing advance MRO works, could reinforce its position and capability as the producer of major aircraft component parts. "Malaysia has the ecosystem to drive growth with its skill, talent, business friendly policies, proficiency in English language and tax incentives," he told Bernama. Celmi emphasised that Malaysia’s economic growth would drive business activities and further propel its dynamism and position as an aviation hub. This, he said, will enable the country to be as equally competitive as other established centres in Singapore, Hong Kong and the US that have managed to attract a large volume of aircraft movement. He said that despite Malaysia having a small population and market size, it had managed to attract regional airlines from Asia for MRO works and grown to be an important centre of ATR and turboprop short-haul aircraft, that are gaining prominence due to fuel efficiency and design. "Malaysia has become a leading centre in Asia for ATR aircraft maintenance work. "This is due to MRO activities that have been strongly developed with the expansion of the ATR fleet in the country and ASEAN region," Celmi said. The ATR aircraft, developed by French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR, is gaining traction in the Asia Pacific with Malaysia operating the second largest such fleet in the REGION. There are 370 ATR aircraft in the Asia Pacific with Malaysia operating about 45. MAB is collaborating with a US company, Aircraft Propeller Service (APS), for the setting up a MRO centre for ATR propellers within its Centre of Excellence at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The centre, which will be the first in the Asia Pacific region for overhaul and repair of ATR propellers, is expected to start in August. –-BERNAMA