Airbus expansion in Malaysia offers promising avenue for green aviation

Airbus’ focus on sustainability presents a promising avenue for Malaysia to contribute to the future of green aviation as the aircraft manufacturer is set to expand its operations and sourcing in Malaysia, said Malaysia’s Ambassador to France, Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim. He believed there are ample opportunities for local companies to integrate into Airbus’s global supply chain. "I have met the Airbus executive vice-president international Wouter van Wersch recently. We discussed the future business for Airbus, and the focus is on sustainability and decarbonisation, areas where Malaysia is poised to play a crucial role,” he said in an interview with Bernama via instant messaging. Malaysia has established a strong and strategic relationship with Airbus, a European multinational aircraft manufacturer, making it one of the key players in the Asia-Pacific aerospace market. "As the third-ranked market for Airbus in the region after China and India, Malaysia plays a vital role in Airbus’s global supply chain and business operations,” he pointed out. Currently, about 50 Malaysian companies are part of Airbus’s supplier network, providing a wide range of aerospace parts and components, including Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), Spirit Aerosystems Malaysia Sdn Bhd and SME Aerospace Sdn Bhd. Airbus has a significant presence in Malaysia, with over 280 commercial aircraft currently in service with Malaysian carriers, including both civil and military helicopters and close to 400 on order for future delivery.<br/>