Caribbean start-up operator Aruba Airlines has contracted Sabena Technics' Miami-based subsidiary Barfield to provide component support for its Airbus A320s.

The Dutch Antilles-based carrier has signed a four-year, by-the-hour contract covering pool access to components from "nose to tail" and repairs on selected equipment, says the French MRO provider.

The repairs will be conducted at Barfield's facility in Bogota, Colombia, while an equipment kit will be placed at the carrier's base in Oranjestad.

Aruba says that it is conducting final certification flights to launch operations later this month with a single A320 (registration P4-AAA) later in April.

Flightglobal's Ascend Online database lists the International Aero Engines IAE V2500-powered twinjet as being owned by International Lease Finance. The aircraft was built in 1996.

The airline configured it with 138 economy and 12 business-class seats. Flights will initially be operated to Maracaibo, Venezuela; Panama City; and São Paulo, Brazil.

Miami is to be added in June, after the planned delivery of a second A320 (P4-AAC) in May.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news