Airbus and Air France are currently negotiating the establishment of a joint venture (JV) to maintain the global Airbus A350 fleet.
According to the plane maker, the two sides “have entered into exclusive negotiations to establish a joint venture for the provision on a worldwide basis of Airbus A350 component maintenance services”.
The maintenance service includes the supply chain management, repairs, and creation of a worldwide pool of aircraft components for the Airbus A350 aircraft family, which includes the A350-900, A350-1000, and A350F.
Airbus and Air France, via its Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) subsidiary, would each own 50% of the new JV company. After the establishment of the company, both sides of the JV would “transfer of aircraft components assets belonging to both partners into the joint venture’s pool,” according to Airbus.
The new JV would help Airbus optimize its commercial offering, allowing it to better meet the “growing long-term maintenance needs of the Airbus A350 worldwide fleet”. The manufacturer pointed out that airlines have already ordered over 1,100 aircraft of the type, with the plane maker already delivering 550 Airbus A350s that are now in service.
Airbus and Air France plan the JV to begin operations in H1 2024, “subject to approval by all relevant authorities”.
“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,” Anne Brachet, the Executive Vice President of AFI KLM E&M, said.
According to Cristina Aguilar, the Senior Vice President Customer Services at Airbus, the two companies have a “long-standing relationship”, which is why pooling the pair’s skills and capabilities will deliver “an enhanced service” to all Airbus A350 operators.