After celebrating its 70th birthday late last year, Taiwanese maintenance, repair and overhaul group Air Asia is pitching for more business from foreign carriers. It has already overhauled narrowbody airliners for 11 carriers in Asia and is authorized by 11 manufacturers s for work on engines and components as well. Air Asia in Taiwan has no connection with prominent low-cost carrier Air Asia, which is headquartered in Malaysia.
Air Asia was established in Taiwan by General Chennault of “Flying Tigers” fame in 1946, and was American-owned until 1989. Today, it is a subsidiary of the Taiwan Aerospace Corp (TAC), which is in majority private ownership. It has major facilities adjoining Tainan airbase in southern Taiwan, wher most of the company’s work for commercial customers is performed. It has another big facility at Pingtung airbase, also in southern Taiwan, as a result of taking over the maintenance of various aircraft types belonging to the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) two years ago.  

Newly appointed TAC chairman and CEO Mike Tien told AIN that nearly all of Air Asia’s commercial work is for international customers. At the time of AIN’s visit to Tainan last month, the company was working on Boeing 737s, Airbus A319s, a Bombardier Q400 and Beechcraft King Airs. It also has approvals from 12 certifying authorities—including the FAA—for B727s, DC-9s, MD-80/90s and various Bell helicopters. The engine shop works mainly on overhauling Honeywell T53s, P&W PT6As and Rolls-Royce M250s and their components.

Air Asia’s chairman and president is Philip Lu, who was until last year a Taiwan government minister. He manages a staff of 810, who deliver an annual turnover of $62-$80 million, of which 30 percent is commercial. Lu said that the company plans to leverage its various approvals and experienced workforce to gain more business from the fast-growing airlines within a 4,000 km (2,500 mile) radius of Taiwan.