French Group Wins Full Support Contract for Maintenance on 20 A330-200s From Kingfisher

PARIS -- As it launched its first international flights last September, Kingfisher entrusted maintenance of its new aircraft to Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance. The group won a full support contract for twenty A330-200s, the first of which were delivered to the Indian carrier in late June 2008.

The contract covers full component services, including door-to-door logistics services to Kingfisher's Bangalore base. AFI and KLM E&M also provide line maintenance at London Heathrow airport.

With this latest contract, AFI and KLM E&M position themselves as key players in this part of the world. Kingfisher joins IndiGo and Spice Jet among the group's major Indian customers.

"We are honored to assist Kingfisher in its international ambitions," says Bruno Delile, AFI Senior VP, Business Development. "This also marks a major step in AFI and KLM E&M's expansion into the Indian market, as this is our first maintenance contract for long-haul operations in the region."

According to Kingfisher Executive Vice-President Hitesh Patel, "AFI and KLM E&M's presence in India was influential in our choice, but it was their MRO experience that proved the clincher."