Airport

The Office Boy Who Became An AirAsia Pilot…!

After 9 years and 11 failed attempts Kugan Tangiisuran, 31 is now able to smile after flying the Airbus A320 to more than 10 destinations around the world with 700 of flight hours under his wing.

The inspirational story of Kugan who joined Air Asia as an office boy and has become a first officer August last year has moved even the CEO and Director of Air Asia Berhad Tan Sri Tony Fernandes to tears. It is a dream he harboured since he was young while watching planes land and takeoff from relatively close range at the Penang International Airport. reported by CJMY

Hailing from Perai in Penang, Kugan had aspired to become a pilot since he was eight. However, it wasn’t going to be an easy ride. After Kugan finished school, he couldn’t study to become a pilot as the courses were too expensive for his middle-class family.

“I ended up studying in the hospitality management field and worked in various hotels in Penang for several years,” Kugan was quoted as saying my FMT.

The inspirational story of Kugan who joined Air Asia as an office boy and has become a first officer August last year

“Then, one day, a friend who worked with AirAsia told me to join the company. He said it gave opportunities to its staff to move between departments,” said Kugan, following which he applied for a job with the airline and was offered the position of despatch boy.Kugan, who wasn’t put off by the offer, saw the post of an office boy as a stepping stone to his childhood dream to fly and joined AirAsia in 2006.

@fmtoday | The despatch boy who became a flier https://t.co/I8naFAjjRm pic.twitter.com/lbruXwxnOp

— Aziz Laikar (@AzizLaikar) April 5, 2016

In the same year, Kugan passed the exam to become a cadet pilot However, a policy which required Kugan to have served for at least two years at his current department dashed his hopes and he wasn’t allowed to proceed further.

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It didn’t deter him. Kugan continued carrying out despatch duties and delivering letters while still keeping alive his dream of becoming a pilot one day. For the next seven years, he kept trying, sitting for exam three more times. Throughout the seven years, even after numerous failures, Kugan never gave up and applied 11 times and sat for 4 qualification examinations.

His perseverance caught the attention of none other than AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes, who personally pushed him to keep trying. Then in 2013, Kugan successfully passed all the required exams and was accepted into Asia Pacific Flight Training (APFT). He completed his training at APFT to become a co-pilot in June last year. reported by says

News courtesy : Citizen Journalists Malaysia.

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Airport

Three Major UK Airports Up for Multi-Billion Pound Sale

Three major UK airports, including London City, Birmingham, and Bristol, are set to be sold in a multi-billion pound deal as their Canadian owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), seeks to capitalize on a booming air travel market.

The OTPP is in talks with minority shareholders about selling its stakes in these airports, as well as its holdings in Brussels and Copenhagen airports.

Current evaluations suggest the combined value of the five airports exceeds £10 billion, with OTPP owning between 25% and 70% stakes in each, potentially bringing the total sale to over £3.5 billion.

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The move comes as global aviation experiences a strong recovery, driving increased demand for air travel, particularly across Europe. The OTPP, which holds a significant portion of its portfolio in these airports, is in the process of offering its shares to co-investors with a 30-day “right of first refusal” period.

Analysts speculate that the sale could trigger a chain reaction, prompting other stakeholders to consider selling their shares, particularly if a new buyer seeks a controlling interest.

Bristol Airport, for example, has outlined an ambitious master plan to expand its capacity from 12 million passengers per year to 15 million by 2036, addressing the growing demand in the region.

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Meanwhile, London’s Heathrow and Stansted airports have seen record passenger traffic, further underscoring the sector’s recovery.

As the 30-day period progresses, the OTPP’s decision could spark a flurry of activity, with other investors such as Australian giant Macquarie reportedly showing interest in the airports.

This potential sale is set to reshape the future of UK airport ownership and investment, as the aviation industry continues to recover and grow.