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thesundaily.my

Airbus to conduct feasibility study

on assembly line in Negeri
Sembilan
3 minutes

SEREMBAN: Airbus SE has agreed in principle to conduct a

feasibility study for an investment to build a final assembly line
(FAL) in Negeri Sembilan.

State Investment, Industrialisation, Entrepreneurship,

Education and Human Capital Committee chairman Dr
Mohamad Rafie Abd Malek said this was agreed upon during
talks between AirAsia Group Bhd and Airbus, the budget
carrier's largest customer of the aircraft model.

"The state government is deeply grateful to Tan Sri Tony

Fernandes (AirAsia Group CEO) in sparking Airbus' interest to
consider opening the FAL facility at the proposed aviation hub
to be developed in Labu near here.

"If Airbus agrees, this will be Airbus' fifth location for FAL
facilities, in addition to Touluse, France; Hamburg, Germany;
Alabama, the US; and Tianjin, China," Rafie told reporters
here today.

He said a special committee, comprising representatives from

the state government and AirAsia had been set up to conduct
due diligence on the aviation hub development.

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He said besides the FAL facility, the state government hoped

to create a commercial maintenance, repair and overhaul
(MRO) centre for aircraft, engine and components at the
aviation hub.

In its commitment letter dated July 15 to AirAsia, the world's

larger aircraft manufacturer said the company would conduct
the feasibility study on the project within 18 months.

"The study will also cover a detailed technical, marketing and

finance analysis to assess the long-term economic viability of
the project.

"Various options will be considered such as MRO, a training

centre, a data centre, possible industrial cooperation, and
Airbus supplier implantation," he said.

Meanwhile, Fernandes said among the basic matters raised

by Airbus during their meeting were land area and skilled
workers.

"We'd talk to Airbus. We used our orders to interest them to

invest in Malaysia.

"The most important thing for Airbus is having the right people.
So, this a wonderful opportunity for Malaysia to bring a lot of
high-skilled jobs into Malaysia," he added. — Bernama

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