Air Transport

A former executive of Malaysia’s Transmile Group has established a new maintenance company in Kuala Lumpur, with low-cost carrier AirAsia its first customer, writes Brendan Sobie.

AirAsia signed a memorandum of understanding this month with new Malaysian maintenance, repair and overhaul company Aermac Services. The carrier says the deal initially includes two Boeing 737-300 heavy checks, but it is looking to develop a long-term relationship with Aermac to include its new fleet of at least 60 Airbus A320s.

The deal is a blow to several established companies, including Malaysia’s Airod and Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero), which have been trying to win a bulk A320 maintenance contract from AirAsia. The carrier counts ST Aero as its largest airframe maintenance provider and now uses providers in Indonesia and Thailand, but not in Malaysia.

Industry sources say Aermac plans to build a hangar at Kuala Lumpur’s Subang airport to support AirAsia and other potential commercial and military customers.

Aermac’s sister company Piertrade is pursuing a maintenance contract for the Malaysian air force’s Aermacchi MB339 trainers.