Delta Air Lines Technical Operations is looking to expand operations in Europe, Africa and Latin America as the US airline's maintenance arm seeks to build its third-party work.
TechOps is thought to be talking with South African Airways and others in Africa and Latin America. "There are lots of opportunities in Brazil, Argentina and Colombia and I think most work will eventually come from the Americas," says Basil Papayoti, director of technical sales and marketing.
Talks are under way with new SkyTeam member Alitalia to add capacity in Europe. TechOps has a similarly close arrangement with fellow SkyTeam member Air France and Papayoti says: "Air France are the experts on Airbus and we are the Boeing specialists."
More talks with Alitalia on providing combined maintenance services began late last month.
The division, believed to have a long-term goal of around $400 million in third-party revenue by 2004, also hopes to sign up United Parcel Service to support its forthcoming MD-11 fleet. Delta TechOps currently supports World Airways MD-11s as well as Airborne Express' freighter fleet. Other customers include Transbrasil, Air Madagascar and SkyTeam member Aeromexico.
"The 737 Next Generation will be our bread and butter," says Papayoti. "We have very close to 50 737s 'nose-to-tail' on contract [for maintenance] and the Delta fleet is currently set to rise to around 220."
The most recent success on the 737 was a deal to provide inventory support, component maintenance and engineering services for 29 Boeing Business Jets owned by the Executive Jet fractional ownership programme.
Source: Flight International
