On the 8th of December 2016, AirAsia and AFI KLM E&M inked a component support agreement for the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320neo passenger jets, in the end scheduled to number 304 aircraft. AirAsia took delivery of its first A320neo on 7 September 2016 in Hamburg.
Signed in the presence of AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and Air France CEO Franck Terner, the contract between the two businesses includes component repair services and answers designed to maximise aircraft availability, which includes the provision of a local main base kit at AirAsia’s Kuala Lumpur facility.
To earn the trust of AirAsia, the arena’s largest low-value service through passengers carried and jet fleet, AFI KLM E&M came up with an extremely-competitive support offer, particularly tailored to the expectancies of the carrier, which changed into seeking out maximum aircraft availability. With its revel in of large-scale support, whether for its discern airlines or its third party airline customers, AFI KLM E&M is able to provide maintenance solutions for very big fleets like that operated by AirAsia.
At the signing ceremony held in Sepang, Malaysia, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said: “We are delighted to find a strong partner in AFI KLM E&M and one that is as dynamic as us. Operating a new-generation aircraft at such a large scale requires adaptive, world-class support, and we have the utmost confidence that AFI KLM E&M will be able to provide us with the responsiveness, reliability and performance needed.”
AirAsia has already had an oppurtunity to check the effectiveness of the MRO solutions delivered by AFI KLM E&M, which presently provides component support for the fleet of A330s operated via AirAsia X, the AirAsia’s budget long-haul subsidiary. Up to now, that support contract has given the carrier total pride, with the initial agreement signed in 2009 being extended in 2013.
Air France CEO Franck Terner added: “We are very honored that AirAsia is extending its trust to us by awarding AFI KLM E&M with the support of its brand new A320neo fleet. I know that with Anne Brachet, AirAsia will find a careful and trusted partner for many years to come.”
For her part, Anne Brachet, EVP AIR FRANCE KLM Engineering & Maintenance, said: “This outstanding contract is further proof of the quality and reputation of the aircraft maintenance services that we provide. Following the fruitful partnership with AirAsia X, we are proud to welcome its parent airline, AirAsia, to our client portfolio and will strive to develop the same kind of trust-based partner relationship with it.”
