Hannover (Germany), 4 March 2015 – MTU Maintenance, one of the leading maintenance providers for commercial aircraft engines worldwide, can count VECA (Vuelos Economicos de Centro America) Airlines, a start-up carrier from El Salvador, as a new customer for the maintenance of its V2500 engines. Under the exclusive agreement, MTU Maintenance will be responsible for the airline’s engine MRO as well as on-wing services and engine trend monitoring. In addition, MTU Maintenance will support VECA Airlines’ engine line replaceable units (LRU). To facilitate operations, it will establish a dedicated LRU storage pool directly in El Salvador. Customer training completes the services provided under the company’s unique Total Engine Care (TEC®) package. The contract with VECA Airlines will run for ten years and has a value of approximately 170 million Euros (in excess of 200 million US dollars).
“We are proud to be partnering with VECA Airlines, an ambitious start-up entering the Central American market,” said Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer and Member of the Executive Board at MTU Aero Engines. “With an innovative set of services, MTU Maintenance is offering its customers substantial benefits, especially when it comes to reduced operational and maintenance costs. We are looking forward to supporting VECA Airlines with our outstanding experience in V2500 engine maintenance and beyond.”
With more than 3,700 shop visits, MTU Maintenance has a worldwide market share of 37 percent and thus ranks number one for MRO work on the V2500. MTU Maintenance’s parent company. MTU Aero Engines is an IAE risk and revenue share partner on the V2500 and holds a stake of 16 percent in the program. The company develops and manufactures the low pressure turbine.
VECA Airlines started operations this January with a flight between San Salvador and Guatemala City. The new carrier intends to establish a route network across the main markets in the Americas. The airline currently operates a fleet of two Airbus A319 but has an ambitious growth plan over the next years, which is covered by the engine maintenance contract.
