Air Malta has engaged US maintenance provider AAR to provide Airbus A320neo component support.

AAR says the hour-based maintenance deal spans "nose-to-tail ATA chapter coverage" for airframe, engine and APU line-replaceable units, and includes supply of on-site inventory to the airline's Malta base.

The deal is an expansion of a previous component maintenance agreement for a "recently delivered" A320ceo, says the MRO provider.

Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that Air Malta in April added to its fleet a 2012-vintage A320ceo – previously operated by SriLankan Airlines – and in June introduced a new A320neo.

Additionally, Air Malta has eight A320ceos built between 2003 and 2007, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.

All A320ceos in the fleet are powered by CFM International CFM56-5Bs, while the Neo is fitted with Leap-1A engines.

Noting that the airline will in 2019 introduce two further A320neos under a fleet renewal programme, Air Malta operations chief Silvio Falzon states: "Through the support of AAR, we will be in a better position to service our aircraft and our customers."

AAR says it has "recently enhanced and centralised its global AOG and order fulfilment services by creating an international operations centre in London Gatwick".

Source: Cirium Dashboard