Air France and Airbus have announced plans for a joint venture to provide component maintenance services for the Airbus A350, including supply chain management, repairs, and the creation of a worldwide pool of spare parts.

The envisaged cooperation would take the form of a 50-50 joint venture between Air France and Airbus and involve the transfer of aircraft components assets belonging to both partners into the joint venture’s pool.

This joint venture, combining the expertise of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Airbus, would entail an “optimised commercial offering, aimed at better meeting the growing long-term maintenance needs of the Airbus A350 worldwide fleet”, the companies said.

Airbus A350 component support

There are more than 1,000 A350 aircraft on order and 550 currently in service worldwide. The joint venture would enable enhanced capacity, an expanded global footprint, and the development of innovative solutions which the companies said would be to the benefit of their customers.

The objective is for the joint venture to be operational by the first half of 2024.

Anne Brachet, executive vice president Air France-KLM Engineering and Maintenance, said: “This project aims to bring customers the best expertise of our two companies on a product as high-tech as the A350.

“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.”

Cristina Aguilar, senior vice president customer services at Airbus, said: “We’re in the business of offering the very best service to our customers, and as the world’s A350 fleet grows, so does the necessary support.

“Air France-KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Airbus have a long-standing relationship and pooling our complementary A350 component skills and capabilities will deliver an enhanced service.”

Image: Copyright © Air France / Patrick Delapierre
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