Positive Altitude

This week we dig deeper into how wildfires are impacting airline operations - from haze particles shortening maintenance cycles to new demands for climate scenario planning. 

We also examine how forest fires will test the credibility of nature-based carbon credits, just as airlines begin to offset for CORSIA. With worsening fires raising permanence and reversal risks, can nature-based solutions hold their ground against tech-based removals - or will buyers pivot away from them? 

The aviation industry is expected to triple in size by 2050. Yet, not only is female representation stubbornly low, young talent is also looking elsewhere. Have decades of underinvestment in diversifying recruitment finally caught up with aviation? 

Maria Nieves Rueda Garcia, Director of Safety Management, Sustainability and Global Outreach at EASA joins us to unpack what’s really driving the talent - and women - shortage, and what the industry must do to reverse it. From persistent barriers to generational divides, we explore the changes aviation can no longer afford to delay.

What actually happens when a passenger crosses the line at 35,000 feet? ✈️

We’ve all seen the viral videos, passengers shouting, refusing crew instructions, or even attempting to open an aircraft door. But the few minutes we see online are only part of the story. 

In this episode, we sit down with Captain Fareh Ishraf Mazputra, General Manager of AirAsia Malaysia, to get a flight commander’s perspective on what goes on behind the scenes. Listen in to find out how crew are trained to deal with these situations and what passengers can expect to do or not do.

Scam trafficking has exploded across Southeast Asia, catching authorities off guard and rising to the top of the region’s trafficking landscape in just a few short years. As traditional responses fall short, the race is on for faster, smarter solutions. 

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, AirAsia Foundation unveils a new strategy to tackle this evolving crisis. In this episode, foundation lead Lilian Chen traces how trafficking tactics have shifted - from hidden compounds to online job traps - and reveals how AirAsia is updating its frontline systems to spot the warning signs and alert potential victims before it’s too late. 

Technology & AI are changing the way airlines operate—from smarter airports to more connected aircraft. But as aviation becomes more digital, cyber threats are evolving just as quickly.

Join us as we chat with Jane Wong, AirAsia's Chief Information Security Officer, about what goes on behind the scenes to keep an airline secure. From phishing scams and deepfakes to AI-driven attacks, we explore why cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue—it's something everybody plays a part in.

CORSIA is at a major crossroads. The European Union is taking a hard look at its aviation climate targets and raising a critical question: does CORSIA still align with the EU’s plans or will it be pushed aside? 

We examine the EU’s review of CORSIA from the outside in - looking at its ripple effects on global supply and demand of eligible credits, and its potential impact on non-EU carriers. We also explore why, despite these new challenges,  AirAsia has joined IATA’s Aviation Carbon Markets Compact to tackle persistent supply bottlenecks. 

Hit play as we unpack what’s at stake and how non-EU players are navigating a market that Europe may be reshaping.

From living room armchairs to bars, restaurants and hotels - retired aircraft are finding unconventional second lives. But is this just the feel-good PR story masking the real challenges of end-of-life disposal?

In this episode, we dig into the latest thinking on aircraft decommissioning, focusing on

• How better value recapture can accelerate fleet upgrading and reduce the industry’s CO2 emissions

• Circular economy opportunities (and its limits)

• Minimum conditions MROs need to expand into this side of the business without compromising environmental standards

Tune in to explore both, the innovation and some inconvenient truths. 

What keeps AirAsia quick on its feet for more than two decades? In this episode, GTR Culture Manager Yvonne Lady Diana spills the beans on how she helped shape the airline’s unique vibe - and how that culture opened the door for women to take on some of the toughest jobs in aviation. Tune in for a story of play, purpose and breaking barriers. 

-

Malay words and conversation in this episode

Baju kurung - traditional Malay attire comprising a loose-fitting tunic and a long skirt

Tudung - headscarf

-

Conversation in Malay

Yvonne: Korang datang interview ni, korang tau tak ini kerja apa?

Yvonne: All of you who are here for the interview, do you know what the job is? 

Belle : Tau. Ramp. 

Belle: We know - Ramp.

Yvonne: Tau tak kerja dia buat apa?

Yvonne: Do you know what you have to do? 

Belle: Angkat beg

Belle: Carry bags.

Yvonne: Tapi kerja ni berat tau? 

Yvonne: But this is hard work, you know? 

Belle: Ya. Tau.

Belle: Yes, we know. 

Belle: Tapi dalam iklan tak cakap pun hanya untuk lelaki, perempuan tak boleh buat.

Belle: But the ad does not say that this job is only for men, and women cannot do it. 

CORSIA is expected to generate demand for more than 200 million tonnes of eligible credits, with supply only just expected to keep pace. Yet airlines are still hesitating to make a move. Tune in as Mun Ching and Sylvie unpack the supply bottlenecks, market uncertainty, and rising fuel price pressures shaping aviation’s pathway to decarbonisation.

The highly anticipated Singapore SAF levy takes effect in April 2026, adding a surcharge to departing flights to help scale SAF. But with soaring fuel prices and geopolitical tensions, is SAF still a viable path for airlines?

In this episode, Mun Ching and Sylvie kick off the year by unpacking what the levy means and exploring how recent global events and market volatility could reshape aviation’s decarbonisation journey.