Kingfisher Airlines Signs Extended Technical Support Agreement

Paris Airshow, Le Bourget (ots) - Partners strengthen existing relationship for entire Airbus A320 fleet Kingfisher Airlines signs extended technical support agreement Total Engine Support TES(R), Total Component Support TCS(R), ARC(R) services selected.

Kingfisher Airlines, one of India's fastest growing airlines, and Lufthansa Technik, the leading provider for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of airplanes, components and engines, signed a contract amendment for an exclusive technical support of the new Airbus A320 fleet — an extension of an existing contract of initially 17 aircraft.

Over the next ten years, Lufthansa Technik Group will serve the Kingfisher Airline A320 family fleet via a Total Component Support TCS(R) with the provision of components at the carrier's hub Mumbai. The arrangement enables Kingfisher Airlines to participate in one of the world's largest pools for aircraft components. Based on the increased volume of components Lufthansa Technik's Indian subsidiary One Stop Airline MRO Support will set up a regional component pool to support existing customer, such as Kingfisher Airlines, as well as future customers within India.

The additional Total Engine Support TES(R) contract will cover a complete service for the IAE V2500-A5 engines of Kingfisher Airlines Airbus A320 family fleet. The engines will be exclusively served on power-by-the-hour terms over the next ten years. Lufthansa Technik will also provide access to spare engines when required.

Furthermore the contract also comprises Lufthansa Technik's Airframe Related Component ARC(R) services, which cover MRO support for composite materials like Inlet cowls, thrust reversers etc. To ensure high dispatch reliability for those ARC services, Lufthansa Technik's subsidiary One Stop Airline MRO Support will provide a stock of those relevant parts in India as well.

"Operating a fast-growing network in India and around, we need an established partner to back up our operations and to increase our efficiency at the same time. The experience and expertise of Lufthansa Technik will be an important factor in our success in a very competitive market," said Hitesh Patel, Executive Vice President, Maintenance & Engineering, Kingfisher Airlines Limited.

"This new agreement is a major step to intensify our existing relationship with Kingfisher Airlines, a key player in India's booming aviation market. Our Total Support services will provide them not only with additional savings and the highest reliability but also with the shortest response times thanks to our new Indian subsidiary," said Wolfgang Weynell, Vice President Marketing & Sales, Lufthansa Technik AG.

Kingfisher Airlines commenced operations in May 2005 with 4 daily flights between Bombay and Bangalore. Today in a short span of 21 months Kingfisher Airlines services 29 key Indian business and leisure destinations with 187 daily flights. Given the fast paced network expansion, the extension of maintenance agreement with Lufthansa Technik is one step towards ensuring continual success for Kingfisher Airlines.

Lufthansa Technik's enduring market success in Asia and India has been due not only to its work quality and close partnerships but also to the fact that it has locally available representatives. Especially services out of the "T-product family" like Total Engine Support TES(R), Total Component Support TCS(R) and Total Technical Support TTS(R) are very popular with the region's carriers.