Austrian interiors and aerostructures company FACC has unveiled a new aftermarket division, and signed a deal with Austrian Airlines to launch its new A320 stowage bin retrofit.
Under a memorandum of understanding with the Vienna-based carrier, inked at the show by vice president technical operations Michael Kaye, FACC will initially refit three A320s with the baggage compartments from later this year. The manufacturer’s chief executive Robert Machtlinger is confident, however, that after a three-month trial Austrian will want its remaining 27 narrowbodies similarly equipped. “We do believe it will be successful,” he says.
Machtlinger is also confident that FACC’s new focus on the aftermarket could see revenues from airlines rise from “slightly below” $10 million a year to “high double digits” by 2021.
The company began seriously looking at the maintenance, repair and overhaul segment for airline customers two years ago, he says, and has seen revenues at its US site in Wichita grow 200% during this time.
Its new FACC Aftermarket Services business will see its three existing divisions – aerostructures, engines and nacelles, and interiors – being “supported with added value services”.
“The increasing composite share in aircraft and our specific expertise both open up great potential in the [MRO] business,” he says.
MRO services will be provided from its main base in Ried, near Vienna, at Wichita, and at Montreal.
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Source: Flight Daily News
