BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  How This AirAsia Engineer Built a RM574M MRO

How This AirAsia Engineer Built a RM574M MRO

Mahesh Kumar, CEO, Asia Digital Engineering (ADE)

20-Feb-25 10:00

How This AirAsia Engineer Built a RM574M MRO

Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) arm of Capital A, aims to redefine aviation maintenance in Southeast Asia. In this episode of Open For Business, CEO Mahesh Kumar details ADE’s evolution from AirAsia’s in-house engineering team to a full-fledged third-party MRO provider. With a state-of-the-art 14-line hangar at KLIA and expansion into markets including Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines—with plans to enter Thailand and the US—ADE is setting ambitious growth targets. 

Mahesh explains how ADE’s comprehensive services, from line and base maintenance to workshops and digital solutions like AEROTRADE and ELEVADE, are engineered for cost efficiency and rapid turnaround. He also highlights the company’s strategy for boosting third-party revenue through organic growth and strategic M&A, alongside investments in workforce development via training partnerships.
 

Whether you’re in aviation or interested in disruptive business models, this conversation offers insights into navigating a capital-intensive industry and driving sustainable growth in a competitive global landscape.

Produced by: Kishan Sivaswamy

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  technologyCorporates

Tags:  aviation maintenancemro servicesaircraft repairSoutheast Asia aviatondigital engineeringM&A strategy





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) Can sports ethics build stronger, more ethical companies? We speak with Paresh Subramaniyam, Founder and CEO of Engage Life, to explore how the timeless values of sports—like fair play, resilience, and discipline—can change today’s workplace culture.

12:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

(REPEAT) We review Keluang Man and look at some of our favourite characters from our childhood.

1:00 PM

Cruise Control

(REPEAT) Fancy a used McLaren MP4-12C at a very reasonable price? Tune in to hear what are the pros and cons of getting a sports car.

2:00 PM

Matt-Splained

(REPEAT) Rich and Matt look at this remarkable rise and fall of EVs and ask if the continued rise of the EV in the 21st Century EV is inevitable and unstoppable?

3:00 PM

Earth Matters

(REPEAT) We speak to three researchers to learn more about how we can coexist with macaques peacefully.

4:00 PM

Bar None

(REPEAT) Former national tennis player Adam Jaya shares his experience being a professional athlete and his training routine.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

BFM presents the BBC World Service, which provides in-depth coverage of issues from around the world.