Aviation Professional Industry Insights: Post COVID-19 Pandemic Business Management for Malaysian Aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Organisations

Abstract

As the pandemic CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to impact the global aviation sector, the Malaysian aircraft maintenance organisation must plan effective business management methods for recovery. The pandemic of COVID-19 had a detrimental impact on both aircraft maintenance activities and the profitability of aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisations, which resulted in layoffs, restructuring and permanent company closures. The purpose of this study is to provide the post COVID-19 pandemic business management method for the Malaysian aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul organisation affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to improve business value. This study identifies the pre and post COVID-19 scenario of aircraft MRO organisations and proposes an industrial standpoint business management method. A literature review and qualitative interviews served as the research method for this study. Five aviation professionals in Selangor, Malaysia were subjected to semi-structured survey questionnaires with a focus on business management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show that taking advantage of selling more corporate jets with all-in-one maintenance packages, government assistance via budgetary, policy-making and simplifying regulation during aircraft re-activation, engagement with government and aircraft training providers promotes a good reputation for the company to attract foreign investors and acquiring managerial and technical professionals from other nations allows the company to tap into the global market. The data gathered from aviation professionals contributed to the development of the study's aim, to propose post COVID-19 pandemic business management method to Malaysian aircraft MRO organisations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to improve business value.