Spanish low-cost airline Volotea finalized an agreement with Air France-KLM for the provision of maintenance services for its fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. The contract will come into effect in January 2023 and will be in force for an initial period of five years.
Volotea will send its aircraft to the facilities of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance, a provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. Its main function is to provide comprehensive support for the entire Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines fleet, although it also provides services to third parties.
The division operates in three main areas: airframe maintenance, engine maintenance, and electronic, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic component support. According to Volotea, the contract guarantees a comprehensive airframe maintenance service and will be carried out mainly during the winter seasons.
Following a bidding process, the company opted for the services of the French-Dutch company for the C-check of its A320 family aircraft. This type of periodic check is carried out approximately every 24 months or every certain number of flight hours specified by the manufacturer of each aircraft.
The checks involve the removal of the aircraft from service, which must remain at the facility where the work is carried out until the completion of all the stipulated examinations. C-checks require between one and two weeks of work. Inspections and parts replacements takes place. In addition, preventive maintenance tasks are carried out.
«This long-term agreement provides us with first-class maintenance services for our A320 fleet», said Carlos Muñoz, CEO of Volotea. «Furthermore, this agreement represents an essential quality guarantee for Volotea, an airline whose top priority is safety», he added.
For her part, Anne Brachet, EVP of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance, said: «We are very pleased to welcome Volotea among our customers and proud of the additional recognition this brings to the quality of our aircraft maintenance services». Finally, she also highlighted the company’s «in-depth A320 product experience».
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