Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance has partnered Beijing General Aviation to set up line maintenance operations in the Chinese capital.

AFI KLM E&M says the joint venture, dubbed Beijing Line Maintenance International, will become operational in April and initially serve Air France-KLM aircraft. But the MRO group adds that the service is to be extended to other airlines.

Beijing General Aviation chief executive Ling Zhuanghuai states: "This agreement is an important milestone for our group, which aims to become a leading aircraft line maintenance player on the Chinese market.”

The company is an affiliate of Beijing Automotive Group and has been set up to develop general aviation services as a "new strategic sector", notes AFI KLM E&M.

In 2015, AFI KLM E&M acquired a shareholding in Dakar-based line maintenance provider SHS Technics to establish a presence in Senegal.

Source: Cirium Dashboard