Virgin Atlantic has inked a 12-year component support contract for its Airbus A330 fleet with Air France KLM Engineering & Maintenance.

The power-by-the-hour agreement covers repair services and pool access to "a large scope of rotable components", says the Franco-Dutch maintenance provider. A main base kit will be installed at the airline's hub at London Heathrow.

The contract follows an earlier component support agreement between the two companies for Virgin's A340 fleet.

AFI KLM E&M has also provided engine and airframe structure maintenance services for the carrier's A340 and Boeing 747 fleets in the past.

Virgin received the first of 10 A330s in February. The last aircraft is to be delivered in late 2012.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news