Finnair and Lufthansa Technik Sign Contract on A350 XWB Component Support

May 13, 2015
Finnair, the first European airline to operate the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, has awarded Lufthansa Technik a 12-year agreement for component support for the new aircraft type.

Finnair, the first European airline to operate the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, has awarded Lufthansa Technik a 12-year agreement for component support for the new aircraft type. Lufthansa Technik is one of the leading providers of technical services for the aviation industry, and the agreement with Finnair is the company's first contract for A350 XWB component support.

"The new A350 XWB aircraft form the backbone of our growth strategy, and component support agreement is one part of our thorough preparations for the aircraft's arrival," says Jari Huhtinen, Vice President, Finnair Technical Operations. "We are pleased to sign this contract with Lufthansa Technik. World class technical competencies, high reliability of repair service and overall cost competitiveness were key factors in our decision," Huhtinen says

"This first contract for component support for the newest Airbus aircraft is a terrific vote of confidence from our customer Finnair,"

says Dr. Johannes Bussmann, CEO of Lufthansa Technik. "It also underscores once again our many years of expertise in ensuring a smooth introduction of new aircraft types."

The exclusive Total Component Support TCS® contract covers the availability and repair services of A350 XWB components. Finnair already has an agreement with Lufthansa Technik on engine related components service for V2500 engines and APU services for APS3200.

Finnair's own maintenance organisation at the Helsinki Airport is responsible for the line maintenance of Finnair's current fleet and the new A350 XWB fleet.

Finnair has firm orders for 19 A350 XWB aircraft, the first four of which are expected to arrive in the fleet in the second half of this year, with another seven in 2016 and 2017. The complete order will be fulfilled by 2023.

About Finnair

Finnair flies between Asia, Europe and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carrying more than nine million passengers annually and connecting 15 cities in Asia with more than

60 destinations in Europe. The airline, a pioneer in sustainable flying, will be the European launch customer of the next-generation, eco-smart Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and is the first airline listed in the Leadership Index of the worldwide Carbon Disclosure Project. The only Nordic carrier with a 4-star Skytrax ranking, Finnair has also won the World Airline Award for Best Airline Northern Europe for the past five years running. Finnair is a member of oneworld, the alliance of the world's leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers.

About Lufthansa Technik:

The Lufthansa Technik Group, with more than 30 subsidiaries and about

26,000 employees worldwide, is one of the leading providers of services for the aviation industry. Lufthansa Technik is licensed internationally as a repair, production and development enterprise.

The Group's portfolio encompasses the entire spectrum of services in the areas of maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and conversion, engines and components.