Fast-growing South Korean budget airline JeJu Air is expanding its fleet of Boeing 737-800s. As a result it has formally agreed to extend their current engine maintenance contract with AFI KLM E&M, with a further 18 shop visits. The long-term agreement covers full support – maintenance and repairs – of the CFM56-7B power plants equipping Jeju’s 737-800 fleet, which will grow to 40 aircraft.
AFI KLM E&M and Uni-Top Airlines have signed an agreement organizing support for the CF6-80C2 engines powering the Chinese carrier’s seven A300 aircraft. The contract includes repair and overhaul of the engines concerned, along with spare engines to guarantee operational availability of Uni-Top Airlines aircraft. A total 14 shop visits have been scheduled to date.
Malaysia’s Eaglexpress Air signed its first contract with AFI KLM E&M. The component support contract, signed during the Singapore Airshow, includes component repair, access to AFI KLM E&M’s global A330 spares pool and a main base kit to be located at Jeddah. The support contract covers the six aircraft recently acquired by Eaglexpress Air. Under the terms of the agreement, Eaglexpress Air will benefit from AFI KLM E&M’s logistic centres in Dubai and Singapore.
Additionally AFI KLM E&M and GMF AeroAsia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the Singapore Airshow. This MOU aims to extend and develop their present partnership in the MRO sphere. Recently the companies also signed a CFM56-7B overhaul and repair contract, together with a contract for Boeing 744 C checks. The number of engines and aircraft covered by the two contracts can be extended. The newly-signed MOU covers several areas of cooperation, including component support synergies for Boeing and Airbus fleet and the maintenance of GE90, CFM56-7 and other CFM56 engine series supported via AFI KLM E&M global network. In the framework of this MOU, AFI KLM E&M is considering subcontracting maintenance services for 747 series to GMF in addition to those already contracted. These concern specific aircraft maintenance programs for several fleets, especially the 747-400s. One heavy C- and D-type check has been scheduled for 2016 involving KLM’s 747-400s. “The extension of this agreement with a major MRO in Asia Pacific demonstrates the competitiveness of our component and engine offering. We are honoured to be able to strengthen our long-term cooperation with GMF AeroAsia” said Franck Terner, EVP AIR FRANCE KLM Engineering & Maintenance. “A wide range of topics are currently under discussion”, added Ton Dortmans Executive Vice President KLM E&M. “This MOU is a natural continuation of the successful partnership agreement already signed in 2014.
