SpiceJet & MAS Aerospace Engineering seal 3-year aircraft maintenance support agreement
Mumbai, 18 January 2010 (STAT): SpiceJet, India’s most preferred low fare airline and MAS Aerospace Engineering (MAE), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, sealed a 3-year maintenance support agreement for SpiceJet’s fleet of Boeing 737 New Generation (NG) series aircraft.
With this, SpiceJet’s current fleet of 19 aircraft and future aircraft will be sent to MAE for “C” and heavy checks from 2010 until 2013. SpiceJet will be adding 12 more B737 NG aircraft to its fleet over the next 2 years to build a fleet of 31 aircraft.
SpiceJet’s Vice President Engineering/Maintenance, Mr. Robert Bryant sealed the agreement with MAS General Manager, Engineering & Maintenance, Mr Tan Wee Liam. The ceremony was witnessed by SpiceJet’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sanjay Aggarwal and MAE’s Managing Director, En Mohd Roslan Ismail.
With this, SpiceJet becomes one of the first launch customer airlines of MAS-GMR Aerospace Engineering Company Ltd; a 50:50 joint venture company between MAE and of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. to provide Airframe MRO services in Hyderabad. The facility will have the capacity to service between 60-80 aircraft annually.
SpiceJet’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sanjay Aggarwal said, “We are happy to be one of the first customers of the partnership between MAS Aerospace Engineering and GMR Aerospace and look forward to our association. We are confident that their expertise, experience and professional support will ensure that SpiceJet remains the best airline in the low fare space in the Indian skies.”
“SpiceJet’s aircraft will first be serviced in Subang. Once our MRO JV Company, MAS-GMR Aerospace Engineering in Hyderabad, India commences operation by first quarter of 2011, the aircraft will be serviced on the subcontinent allowing SpiceJet to enjoy even more cost savings and reduced downtime for each aircraft. On an average, the downtime for an aircraft leaving Indian shores for maintenance is between 4 and 10 days. We are delighted with SpiceJet’s confidence in our Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services. As a low cost carrier, SpiceJet values partners who can provide the best value services. With over 36 years of MRO experience, skilled resources, readily available infrastructure, flexibility in meeting customers’ requirements and highly competitive pricing, MAE fits the bill.” Roslan said.
