Delta TechOps Agrees to 10-Year, $1 Billion Deal With Chromalloy for Parts Agreement, MRO Engine Work

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) has reached a 10-year, $1 billion plus deal with Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation, which marks the largest and most significant Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) agreement in the airline industry, adds the CFM56-5 to Delta TechOps -- the airline's Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) division -- engine overhaul capabilities and will result in 250 additional engine overhauls.

"This is a significant development for the future of our industry and one that signals the dynamic, out-of-the-box strategy for which Delta TechOps is known," said Tony Charaf, senior vice president of Delta TechOps. "Chromalloy already has extraordinary capabilities in PMA development and by working with them, Delta TechOps will be well positioned in the marketplace to better compete and, in turn, offer greater flexibility to our more than 100 customers worldwide."

As part of the deal, Chromalloy will develop PMA alternatives for a number of parts commonly used in the CFM56-7 and CFM56-5 engines, including several Life Limited Parts (LLP). Delta and Chromalloy will work together on the development of the PMA parts, and Delta will serve as the launch customer by incorporating certain parts in its own large fleet of CFM56-7 engines. The CFM56-7 is the exclusive engine used on Boeing's 737 Next Generation aircraft and represents the largest fleet of engines flying today. The fleet is expected to double in the next 10 years, growing to more than 12,000 engines.

"Delta TechOps is highly regarded in the MRO industry for providing not only maintenance services for Delta's own engines, but also increasingly for third parties. We look forward to working closely with Delta's extremely qualified staff of engineers and technical professionals on this important program which is a new milestone for the entire industry," said Christine Richardson, Chromalloy's chief executive officer. "This will build on the strong technical and service relationship we already have with Delta, as our interests are uniquely aligned on this large aftermarket program."

While Delta TechOps currently performs engine overhauls on the CFM56-7, this deal will add the CFM56-5 engine type to the extensive list of engines it services which includes the PW4000, PW2000, JT8D-219, CF680A, CF680C2 and CF34 engine lines. As the engine of choice on Airbus aircraft including the A318, A319, A320 and A321, the CFM56-5 represents a significant addition to Delta TechOps' overhaul and repair capabilities. With the PMA parts program, Delta TechOps will offer its customers an industry leading alternative for their CFM56-7 and CFM56-5 overhauls.

The deal also includes 250 engine overhauls to be performed by Delta TechOps professionals over the term of the agreement, which also will add to the impressive growth of Delta TechOps' engine maintenance business. In 2007, Delta TechOps will overhaul more than 220 customer engines.

The agreement with Chromalloy complements Delta TechOps' growing list of strategic sourcing partnerships, all of which include elements that continue to help grow the MRO business. Already this year, TechOps has announced agreements with Pratt & Whitney and CFM International. With this agreement, Delta TechOps will be the world's largest third-party CFM engine overhaul provider.