Airbus is negotiating establishment of a new joint venture with Air France SA to provide component maintenance services (maintenance, repair, overhaul, or MRO) for the global A350 fleet. The organization and valuation for the venture were not described, but Airbus indicated the partners would have equal ownership stakes and foresee a 2024 start.
The Airbus A350 is a twin-engine wide-body aircraft in service on long-range routes with more than three dozen carriers and leasing agencies. According to Airbus, there are more than 550 A350 jets currently in service and more than 1,000 on order.
Combining the maintenance capabilities of the Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance organization with the design and manufacturing resources of Airbus would create “an optimized commercial offering,” according to the OEM, and address the long-term maintenance needs of A350 operators.
“This project aims to bring customers the best expertise of our two companies on a product as high-tech as the A350,” stated Anne Brachet, EVP of Air France-KLM Engineering & Maintenance. “We will be able to better respond to the needs of the market, and to guarantee the satisfaction of our customers over the long term, with support solutions that are always responsive, of high quality and at the right price".
