BMM to grow Subang ops, prepares for third-party airline work
KUALA LUMPUR: Base Maintenance Malaysia (BMM) plans to expand its aircraft maintenance operations in Subang with a third hangar (Hangar 3) as it prepares to take on work from third-party airlines and grow Malaysia's role in the global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market.
BMM chief executive officer Lee Yang Loong said the company, which began operations in November 2025, is currently operating from Hangar 2 with capacity to service up to three aircraft at the same time.
The addition of Hangar 3, expected between 2026 and 2027, will double up capacity to six.
"We definitely are ramping up our workforce to be able to support both hangars (Hangar 2 and Hangar 3). We do look to grow our workforce in proportion to make sure that we can support the aircraft checks," Lee told Business Times in an interview recently.
BMM is a subsidiary of SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), which entered into an agreement with Khazanah Nasional Bhd to lease hangar facilities at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for 15 years with an option to extend for another 15 years.
The long-term lease forms part of a broader plan to develop Subang as a regional MRO hub.
BMM has so far focused on servicing aircraft from Singapore Airlines but is now preparing to take on third-party airline customers from overseas by mid-year.
"We have completed quite a few aircraft checks to-date for Singapore Airlines and in the coming months, we're preparing ourselves to start servicing third-party airlines," Lee said.
He said the move will bring maintenance work into Malaysia that is usually done in other countries.
"What we have done that adds value to the country is that we are bringing in work that are traditionally not being done here.
"So, aircraft that are traditionally being serviced in Singapore and overseas now we are bringing the work into Malaysia to be maintained and overhauled here. So, I think there is a big contribution to the economy," Lee said.
BMM is currently equipped to perform up to C-checks , heavy maintenance works and cabin retrofit works.
To date, most completed checks have been on the Airbus A350 with Boeing B777 inductions scheduled to begin by mid-year.
"We're equipped to handle up to C-checks as well as full heavy maintenance checks that are required. We're equipped for the A350 as well as the B777 aircraft," Lee said.
A C-check is a major scheduled maintenance check carried out every 18 to 24 months depending on the aircraft type and usage.
It involves a detailed inspection of the aircraft's structure, systems and components.
BMM is also looking to expand its capabilities to include the B787 by 2027-2028 while keeping a longer-term view on the next-generation aircraft such as the B777X.
"We do have definite plans for the B777X. Definitely as our facility mature and progress, we look to add more new aircraft types. Today, we have the A350 and (soon) the B777 and the next aircraft type we're looking to add is the B787."
"I think with these three aircraft types, it's quite sufficient for us to fill out our capacity because there are a lot of airlines that operate these aircraft types.
"Definitely B777X is a longer-term consideration and we have to look at it and whether it makes sense in the future," Lee said.
Singapore Airlines has ordered 31 B777-9 aircraft with deliveries currently expected to begin from 2027.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Lee said BMM's operations so far have remained steady.
"The situation depends on how it develops but for the current moment while the Middle East conflict is happening, a lot of Asia carriers are so called benefitting from this because passengers are diverting to other carriers."
"For now, we still see a healthy load and traffic for the other Asian carriers. Of course, we try to observe the situation and how it develops," he said, adding that BMM is optimistic with the pent-up demand on aircraft maintenance and cabin retrofits.
Lee said BMM has not experiencing significant supply chain constraints as most of its parts and materials are sourced within the region.
"We have not been affected so far because most of our supply chain is based in this region," he said.
He viewed that the broader outlook for the MRO sector remains positive supported by pent-up demand following the pandemic with deferred maintenance and retrofit programmes as key drivers of growth.
"Since the pandemic, there's a pent-up demand for aircraft maintenance and general aviation for passenger flying. I think that is driving a lot of growth in the industry. For the foreseeable future, we see that Malaysia and BMM is in a good state to actually capture this pent-up demand of MRO growth," Lee said.
