European investments in Malaysia

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Malaysia one of Dassault's most important markets in Asia Pacific
By BILQIS BAHARI - July 8, 2022 @ 3:15pm



The company’s head of Southeast Asia and Pacific for civil aircraft Didier Raynard said the demand for business aviation jets was increasing in the region as it gave another option for clients to travel given the limited commercial airline capacity that was available currently. (Pix by Bilqis Bahari)

KUALA LUMPUR: Dassault Aviation sees Asia Pacific as one of its strongest and biggest business aviation market with Malaysia as one of its most important clients in the region.

The company's head of Southeast Asia and Pacific for civil aircraft Didier Raynard said the demand for business aviation jets was increasing in the region as it gave another option for clients to travel given the limited commercial airline capacity that was available currently.

"If you have started travelling again, you can see that there is much less frequency (of commercial flights). It means that you have much less choice in terms of timing. It'll probably take a long time or a few years (for commercial aviation) to come back to the previous level (pre-pandemic).

"The pandemic has probably accelerated the decision of some users that were probably chartering before and see the real value of business aviation. It's not a luxury tool, it's really a business tool," he said at a media briefing on Dassault's latest Falcon 6X aircraft here yesterday.

Didier said Dassault was expanding its existing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang to cater to more business aviation aircraft of different manufacturers from countries in the Asia Pacific region.

He said the new RM100 million purpose-built facility, to be managed by ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, would be capable of maintaining all aircraft from light maintenance to heavy maintenance, including C-checks.

The 144,000 sqft MRO facility is slated to be opened end of 2023. Dassault acquired ExecuJet in 2019.

Meanwhile, the twinjet long-range Dassault Falcon 6X that could fit up to 16 passengers has garnered a strong interest in the Asia Pacific including Malaysia.

"The aircraft is perfectly adapted for the markets here in Southeast Asia or Asia Pacific in general. Our clients want a big, comfortable cabin. They are extremely concerned about safety, fuel efficiencies, cost of operating, so when the 6X enters into service, it will be very well perceived in the market," Didier said.

The Falcon 6X, which can fly up to 11 hours non-stop, is slated to enter into service by mid-2023. The price per fully equipped aircraft is around US$57 million.

The aircraft offers the most interior space in the 5,000 nautical miles segment and features the highest and widest cross-section of any purpose-built business jet.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...s-asia-pacific