By Vijay Grover
Day two of the Singapore Airshow saw some major announcements and MOUs being signed. The day started off with STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan placing a firm order for five all-new A350F freighters and three more A330neo widebody aircraft. The agreement was signed by KW Chang, Chairman of STARLUX Airlines and Christian Scherer, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business of Airbus. The agreement importantly signaled the return of the growth in aviation sector post-pandemic. Industry experts say, the announcements signal healthy growth for the next 20 years in the aviation sector.
“STARLUX Airlines has continuously nurtured the cargo market since its inception, capitalizing on the strategic advantages offered by Taiwan’s geographical location,” said STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai.
“We love working with STARLUX Airlines in building and strengthening its fleet,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft.
Airbus Defence and Space and ST Engineering’s Defence Aerospace business have agreed to collaborate towards providing MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services for C295, extending Airbus footprint in the region, in support of the Asia-Pacific users of the medium tactical airlift fleet.
As an Airbus-accredited C295 MRO provider, ST Engineering will support the regional C295 fleets with depot-level maintenance and turnkey solutions at its existing facility in Singapore
“ST Engineering has been a long-time partner across Airbus’ business lines, and we are pleased to extend this collaboration where we leverage its established strength in MRO. We look forward to this center of excellence supporting our C295 operators in Asia-Pacific with efficiency, cost-effectiveness and quality,” said Zakir Hamid, Head of Asia-Pacific, Airbus Defence and Space.
“With this latest collaboration with Airbus, we are extending our MRO solutions in tactical airlifters to the C295 platform. Working closely with Airbus, we will harness our deep experience and capabilities in MRO to contribute to the mission success of C295 operators in the region,” said Sarbjit Singh, President of Defence Aerospace, ST Engineering.
Critical communications, navigation, surveillance systems and air data sensors will be provided and serviced by Collins’ DispatchSM solution – a comprehensive service plan covering maintenance, assets and logistical support. MAB will have access to original equipment manufacturer-certified spares, repairs and service, while ensuring parts availability and expedited turnaround times at predictable costs.
“MAB’s 737-8 fleet will receive reliable navigation and guidance solutions that enable greater efficiency and precision accuracy for a wide range of airborne applications,” said Craig Bries, vice president and general manager of Avionics Sales, Marketing and Aftermarket Services at Collins Aerospace. “Through Collins’ Dispatch maintenance program, MAB will not only have access to a global network of spares pools, service centers and technical assistance, but will be equipped with the confidence their avionics systems are operating predictably, safely and with more on-time departures and arrivals.”
“As the travel demand continues to soar, our narrowbody fleet remains pivotal in supporting connectivity to key markets. By leveraging on the expertise and capabilities of our partners, we ensure that the fleet receives the necessary maintenance support, ensuring the efficiency and reliability of our aircraft,” said Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi, Chief Executive Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group.
With over 230 delegations from over 90 countries expected to attend the Singapore Airshow, the event is likely to become the biggest event in Southeast Asia in recent years.
