Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) has been granted the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Design Organisation Approval (DOA) Part 21 certificate (EASA DOA) in September this year.

In a statement today, MAB said, this would allow the airline to perform major modifications and repairs in avionics, structures and cabin interiors.

Its group CEO, Peter Bellew, said the approval would assist the airline in rebuilding its maintenance, repair and overhaul business and take on third-party contracts over the next 18 months.

He said the efforts to obtain the EASA DOA started February 2014.

"Our team managed to pull the resources together and earn the certificate in record time despite new requirements and additional documentation for the approval," he said.

MAB is the first airline and locally-owned company in Malaysia that has received the EASA DOA.

Currently, the airline holds EASA Part 145 (Maintenance Organisation Approval), EASA Part 147 (Maintenance Training and Examination Organisation Approval) and the newly-extended EASA Design Organisation Approval certificates. -- Bernama