Bangladesh, AirAsia discuss expanded aviation ties

The issues came up during a recent visit by a Bangladesh delegation, headed by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, to AirAsia Group’s headquarters, RedQ, in Kuala Lumpur.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury were also part of the delegation.

AirAsia Group CEO Bo Lingam welcomed the delegation and briefed them on the airline group’s business model, operational practices and possible areas for broader cooperation.

“We are honoured to welcome the delegation from Bangladesh to AirAsia and share our experiences across the aviation value chain. We hope the exchange provides useful insights into our operations and creates opportunities for continued knowledge sharing and technology transfer between our two markets,” Lingam said.

AirAsia and Capital A executives also presented the delegation with an overview of the low-cost carrier model, highlighting the importance of supportive policies and efficient operations for the sustainable growth of budget airlines.

The discussions also focused on fleet and route planning, improving airport efficiency, reducing aircraft turnaround times and cutting operational costs to make air travel more affordable.

As part of the visit, the delegation toured Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 with Ground Team Red, observing automated passenger services, self-service facilities, digital baggage handling and other technologies designed to streamline passenger movement and improve aircraft utilisation.

The delegation later visited Asia Digital Engineering’s 14-line maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, where they gained insights into advanced aircraft maintenance and the use of engineering technology to improve fleet reliability.

The programme ended with a dinner hosted by Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes in honour of Millat and Ashik.

The participants discussed prospects for cooperation in aviation, tourism and investment and explored ways to contribute to the development of the aviation industries of Bangladesh and Malaysia.

The visit underscored the two sides’ interest in strengthening technical cooperation, sharing expertise and promoting mutually beneficial opportunities in the aviation sector.

During the dinner, the participants exchanged views on aviation cooperation, tourism and investment and explored opportunities to support the development of the aviation sectors of Bangladesh and Malaysia.

The visit reflected a shared interest in expanding knowledge exchange, technology transfer and mutually beneficial cooperation in the aviation sector, reports UNB.