MARK PILLING
Air France Industries (AFI) and Delta TechOps of the USA are joining forces to pitch for a broad range of airframe, engine and component maintenance work.
On the marketing side, the companies, subsidiaries of SkyTeam airline alliance partners Air France and Delta Air Lines, can take their time branding their joint vision - informally called SkyTech - because the parent brands are so strong, says AFI marketing and sales VP Pierre-Yves Reville.
Later this year Air France is to hold discussions with fellow SkyTeam member Korean Air about its joining the MRO alliance, while Delta will do the same with fellow member Aeromexico.
Joint work is already under way on contracts with Malev, Iberworld, Air Madagascar and Royal Air Maroc, says Basil Papayoti, director technical sales and marketing at Delta TechOps.
The two companies are making a major proposal to United Parcel Service on provision of a one-stop MRO service for its growing fleet of Boeing MD-11s, he says. UPS is to acquire up to 35 used MD-11s from Boeing for conversion into freighters by the manufacturer. Some of the aircraft may come from Delta. Delta TechOps already has a similar MRO package deal for support of the MD-11s operated by World Airways.
Support
The Boeing 737 Next Generation is also being targeted, according to Papayoti. Delta is building up a fleet of over 200 737NGs. Delta TechOps has also been named as a full MRO support organisation for the Boeing Business Jet.
The Executive Jet NetJets fractional ownership programme has signed a contract with Delta TechOps for maintenance of all its BBJs. NetJets took delivery of its first early this month. AFI has a similar MRO position on the Airbus A319 Corporate Jet.
The partners began offering joint MRO packages in October 2000, and each has a sales executive in the other's offices.
Source: Flight Daily News
