Penang: Brahim’s Dewina Group of Companies (Brahim’s) plans to expand its in-flight catering kitchen at Penang International Airport (PIA) this year to meet rising demand from Visit Malaysia 2026. Its executive chairman, Datuk Seri Ibrahim Ahmad, said he expects more airlines, particularly from China, to operate flights to Penang next year, which could contribute to higher tourist arrivals to the state.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chinese tourists are drawn to Penang due to the ease of communication, with many locals speaking their language. Additionally, local food like durian udang merah (red prawns) attracts these tourists, resulting in increased flight frequencies. Ibrahim mentioned that the state government plans to enlarge the airport, prompting Brahim’s decision to expand the kitchen at PIA to cater to the growing demand.
Currently, Brahim’s serves 18 airline carriers at PIA. At Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Brahim said the group’s subsidiary, Brahim’s Food Services Sdn Bhd, serves 31 airlines, including top international carriers like Qatar Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), and Turkish Airlines.
Brahim’s Food Services is now stable after overcoming issues with the Ground Handling License (GHL), which has been issued. Separately, the group plans to revive its factory in Amman, Jordan, by early this year as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative to support humanitarian food aid for Gaza. They have received support from their Jordanian partners, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah.
The factory in Jordan requires repairs and maintenance before resuming operations, which are hoped to start by the first quarter of 2026. Brahim expressed the hope for sufficient support and assistance from local NGOs to kick off the initiatives next year.
Despite challenges in the market environment, Brahim’s remains resilient and continues to lead in the food manufacturing industry, particularly in the halal segment. While catering services remain the group’s core business, covering airlines, military contracts, and university catering, Brahim hopes to extend its government catering contract.
Ibrahim noted that despite competition, Brahim’s stays on track and performs well, maintaining its quality standards and receiving awards and recognitions for its halal-certified products. He suggested that ASEAN should adopt standardised halal regulations to facilitate intra-ASEAN trade, similar to the European Union’s framework, to enhance trade and push ASEAN-made halal products into the global market.