Asia jet-maintenance crunch is set to persist, repair firm warns

Asia’s rapidly expanding airlines may face long waits to have their aircraft repaired and maintained amid surging demand, one of the region’s fastest-growing jet maintenance, repair and operations firms has warned. “Our orderbook is filled through the end of next year,” Asia Digital Engineering Chief Executive Officer Mahesh Kumar said in an interview at the company’s brand-new 14-bay aircraft hangar at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday. The shortage of maintenance facilities and qualified staff across Asia presents an additional challenge to the aviation industry at a time when airlines are already struggling with heightened scrutiny over jet maintenance amid massive delays in new plane deliveries. Rising competition in the regional aircraft-repair market for new business and staff is also complicating the landscape. Formed during the pandemic as a subsidiary of AirAsia’s Capital A Bhd., ADE has tapped into increasing regional demand for aircraft maintenance to grow from a single bay to its current facility with space for 16 jets. It now employs over 1,500 people. The company’s emergence has exacerbated the battle to recruit and retain talent among established rivals such as SIA Engineering Co., GE Aerospace and Malaysia Airlines’ MAB Engineering Services. SIAEC, the aircraft maintenance arm of Singapore Airlines, sparked concerns of workforce poaching when it expanded operations in Malaysia earlier this year. Malaysia Airlines lost about 15% of its engineering staff over the first few months of 2024, which authorities later said contributed to severe flight disruptions at the country’s national carrier that forced it to temporarily cut its schedule by 20%.<br/>