Upclose with Mahesh Kumar
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Asia Digital Engineering (ADE)
Described as a ‘market disruptor’ driving ADE through data and technological advances, Mahesh Kumar helms Capital A Berhad’s wholly-owned subsidiary, ADE, which was established in September 2020 to deliver a full spectrum of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.
This includes line maintenance, base maintenance, workshop capabilities, component and warehouse services as well as engineering support.
Mahesh, who hails from Klang in Selangor, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering (2004 to 2008) from the Nehru College of Aeronautics in India. Having joined AirAsia’s Engineering Department in 2009, the 39-year-old was involved in various engineering projects, including setting up AirAsia India Engineering and transforming Zest Airways into AirAsia Philippines.
He was appointed in 2015 as the pioneering Senior Vice President, Technical of AirAsia’s new aircraft leasing arm, Asia Aviation Capital Limited. Prior to his current appointment, the man was the Head of Fleet and Technical Asset Management at AirAsia. Backed by his extensive experience, his aim is to make ADE a trusted partner for airlines globally.
Since your appointment as CEO, what are some of the achievements accomplished thus far?
With ADE born during the pandemic as a ‘COVID baby’ out of a need for survival, we have come a long way and are proud today to be one of the largest MRO players in the Asia Pacific. Within a few short years, ADE completed over 180 heavy maintenance checks (C-checks) and managed an average of 16,000 transit checks per monthacross more than 20 airports through our line maintenance operations.
Additionally, we expanded into component workshop capabilities and digital MRO solutions. Our base maintenance footprint grew rapidly with a total of 16 lines, including our flagship 14-line facility, which became operational in August 2024.
ADE also achieved regulatory milestones, having received the Approved Maintenance Organisation certifications in 10 countries. Most recently, we secured approvals from both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a significant step in enabling us to serve a wider range of customers.
Given our strong foundation built on over 20 years of engineering excellence from AirAsia’s Engineering Department, we are confident ADE will continue to grow as a key player in the global MRO landscape, especially through strategic partnerships with players such as GMF Aero Asia in Indonesia to grow a regional landing gear business.
What is the latest development at your 14-line MRO hangar?
As the largest facility of its kind in Malaysia, it can handle up to 14 aircraft simultaneously. We carry out base maintenance for both Airbus A320, A330 and Boeing 737 aircraft for a range of customers here and are proud to share that this hangar in Selangor is fully booked for the next 12 months.
How has the MRO landscape in Asia Pacific changed in recent years following the recovery of air travel?
The MRO landscape in this region has evolved significantly following the recovery of air travel with airlines ramping up capacity to meet growing demand, and that is driving a surge in maintenance needs. At the same time, there are increasing pressures to optimise turnaround times, reduce costs as well as adopt smarter and more sustainable operations. We are seeing a greater focus on digitalisation, predictive maintenance and regional self- sufficiency as airlines and lessors look to reduce reliance on traditional hubs.
What are the opportunities and challenges like for Malaysia, which aims to become a preferred global aerospace outsourcing centre, including for MRO services?
Malaysia has strong potential to be a global aerospace hub, especially for MRO, thanks to our strategic location, cost advantage and skilled workforce. There is a growing opportunity to attract regional carriers, expand
component capabilities and lead in digital MRO. The key challenges are staying ahead of regional competition, scaling up talent and upgrading infrastructure.
After setting up ADE’s MRO operations outside of Malaysia in Cambodia, what is next?
We are especially proud that ADE Cambodia was the first entity outside Malaysia to receive full business approvals.
Since then, we have established a presence in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, strengthening our presence across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This reflects our broader commitment to delivering reliable, world-class maintenance solutions throughout ASEAN.
How is your plan going to expand ADE Cambodia’s MRO operations to other airports in the country?
With ADE Cambodia’s operations headquartered at Phnom Penh International Airport, the country’s busiest airport and main international gateway, its strategic location enables us to efficiently support the growing aviation needs of the region. Discussions are still underway regarding our plan to expand to other key airports in Cambodia. Our focus is to build a strong foundation in Phnom Penh while progressively extending our services across the country.
To what extent has smarter data usage helped ADE scale productivity and ensure ADE’s profitability?
As a market disruptor, we have built ADE around a digital-first foundation, and smarter data utilisation has played a crucial role in scaling our productivity and ensuring profitability. Our proprietary digital platforms, AEROTRADE® and ELEVADETM, are at the core of this strategy. AEROTRADE® is Asia’s first aviation marketplace, simplifying procurement with over USD244 million worth of inventory for Airbus and Boeing aircraft. It is trusted by over 150 global airlines, MROs and original equipment manufacturers, including AirAsia, TransNusa and Setna iO.
Meanwhile, ELEVADETM is our all-in-one digital MRO platform, integrating real-time aircraft health monitoring, fleet management and workforce optimisation. ELEVADE FLEET, monitoring over 200 aircraft and 3,000personnel, leverages two decades of data to deliver predictive maintenance and enhanced operational visibility. These platforms allow us to improve turnaround times, reduce costs and scale efficiently, positioning ADE not only as a service provider but also as a digital innovator in the MRO space.
These platforms allow us to improve turnaround times, reduce costs and scale efficiently, positioning ADE not only as a service provider but also as a digital innovator in the MRO space.
How has ADE benefited from its focus on third party markets?
While AirAsia Group remains our anchor client, we serve a growing number of airlines worldwide. Our deep expertise in maintaining the A320 and A330 aircraft alongside Boeing 737s enables us to support a wide range of fleet requirement not only for airlines across ASEAN but also in the Middle East, Europe and Australia.
How have your MRO operations contributed to ADE’s sustainability efforts?
ADE is committed to sustainability across all areas of our operations. Our hangars are certified green and designed to use clean energy, with ongoing efforts to further reduce our carbon footprint. Through our digital marketplace AEROTRADE®, we help minimise waste by enabling airlines to sell surplus inventory, extending the life of parts and avoiding unnecessary disposal. We also prioritise repairs over replacements to reduce scrap rates and extend component lifecycles. These initiatives reflect our belief that sustainability and operational excellence must go hand in hand in shaping the future of aviation.
How big is your ADE team?
Our total workforce currently stands at 1,805, with 10% of our technicians and engineers being women — a growing number we continue to support through inclusive hiring and development initiatives.
Overall, how do you see the future of MRO in Asia Pacific?
The future of MRO in the region is exceptionally promising, driven by sustained fleet growth, digitalisation and infrastructure investment. As demand continues to rise, the need for efficient, tech-enabled maintenance solutions will only grow. With our specialised skills and competitive pricing, we are well positioned to meet the evolving needs of airlines across Asia Pacific and play a key role in shaping its MRO landscape.
How do you maintain a work-life balance?
I try to find pockets of time to unwind. Sometimes that means travelling, other times just going for a quick run or switching off for a bit. It really depends on the week.