CAE Targets Southeast Asia for Flight Tech Amid Travel Surge

CAE Inc, a Canadian leader in global aviation technology, is targeting Southeast Asia as a key growth market for its Flight Operations Solutions, capitalizing on the region's surging air travel demand and rising digital transformation initiatives among airlines.

Pascal Grenier, president of CAE's flight solutions division, stated that Southeast Asia has become one of the quickest-growing aviation markets in the world, as airlines are enlarging their fleets and networks to satisfy rising air travel needs.

"Southeast Asia represents a tremendous opportunity for us. Airlines in this region are growing rapidly, and with that comes the challenge of managing operations efficiently. As airlines manage more aircraft, their operations will become more complex."

"Our Flight Operations Solutions provide data-driven decision-making tools that help airlines improve crew scheduling, optimise fuel usage, and minimise operational disruptions," he told Business Times in an interview recently. 

CAE is recognized globally as the largest producer of flight simulators for both commercial aviation and defense. The firm runs a network of over 70 training centers across 50 nations, where it provides training for pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance engineers.

In 2021, the company grew its digital flight crew management by purchasing Sabre Corporation's AirCentre airline operations portfolio for US$392.5 million.

A major innovation from CAE in the Flight Operations Solutions sector is the Unified Task Board, a digital tool aimed at optimizing airline workflows, boosting collaboration among flight operations teams, and enhancing real-time decision-making.

Harsha Majeti, the vice president of product management for Flight Operations Solutions at CAE, stated that the Unified Task Board minimizes communication lags among different airline operational departments, enabling them to respond rapidly to unforeseen changes like weather issues, crew deficiencies, or maintenance holdups.