KUALA LUMPUR: The reinstatement of Malaysia's air safety ranking to Category 1 by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to provide more opportunities for AirAsia Group's future medium to long-haul network plans. 

AirAsia applauded the FAA reinstatement snd said it bodes well for the company's burgeoning maintenance, repair and overhaul subsidiary, Asia Digital Engineering as it woukd boost its service for regional and potentially other international airlines.

AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd chief executive officer Bo Lingam said the announcement came at the right time as travel demand picks up after an industry reset following the pandemic. 

"Category 1 safety rating will not only allow us to expand our future network plans but also stabilise the country's aviation industry as a whole.

"A massive congratulations to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) for meeting the International Civil Aviation Organisation safety standards again and to the Ministry of Transport for their continued effort to improve the FAA's rating on Malaysia's aviation status.

"We look forward to working closely with CAAM and the Transport Ministry as well as all industry players to position Malaysia as a key aviation hub for the region," he said in a statement.

AirAsia X is currently the only airline in the group that operates to the US directly, to Honolulu in Hawaii through Osaka, Japan.