AirAsia- MAS collaboration could create mega MRO

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia Bhd can collaborate in various areas such as training, maintenance, repair and ovehaul (MRO), cargo, logistics, sales, distribution as well as catering. "If you put the volume of MAS and AirAsia it becomes a mega MRO," said AirAsia's chief, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, when outlining the potentials of the tie-up. Fernandes said this to reporters after speaking at Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2011 here today. He said such a collaboration could emerge as a real competitor to Singapore's MRO. Similarly, he said, MAS and AirAsia would also emerge as big players in the training area amid the training capacity of both airlines. "Malaysia can become Asia's biggest trainer of pilots by harnessing the strengths of both airlines," he said, adding that both airlines had excellent records of pilot and engineering quality. As for catering, "we don't use LSG, but together we may get a much better deal from LSG and better quality," said Fernandes. Germany-based LSG Sky Chef is an in-flight service provider. "So, these are the revenue, cost and new business opportunity ideas," he said. He also reiterated the need for branding. "We need to make sure MAS and AirAsia are globally recognised," he said, adding that he was optimistic of the collaboration between the airlines. The collaboration came about after Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the major shareholder of MAS, announced that it would take up 10 per cent stake in AirAsia while Tune Air Sdn Bhd, the investment vehicle of Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, would own a 20.5 per cent stake in MAS under a share-swap deal.