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.
‘I have met the Airbus Executive Vice-President International Wouter van Wersch recently. We discuss 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.
“As the third-ranked market for Airbus in the region after China and India, Malaysia plays a vital role in Airbus’ global supply chain and business operations,” he pointed out.
“Moreover, Airbus has expressed its commitment to expanding its supplier base in Malaysia, aiming to onboard more local companies in the coming years. This expansion not only enhances Malaysia’s role in Airbus’ supply chain but also boosts the local aerospace industry’s growth and development,” Eldeen Husaini said, indicating that there are ample opportunities for local companies to integrate into Airbus’ global supply chain.
Currently, about 50 Malaysian companies are part of Airbus’ supplier network, providing a wide range of aerospace parts and components, including Composites Technology Research Malaysia, 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.
Malaysia Airlines is expecting the delivery of five airbus A330neo aircraft by the first quarter of 2025. As for AirAsia, the group expects to receive another five new Airbus A321neo aircraft by the end of this year.
