Germanwings and Lufthansa Technik Sign Strategic Partnership
Germanwings and Lufthansa Technik have significantly strengthened their existing relationship by signing a strategic cooperation contract regarding technical services for the complete fleet, currently consisting of 30 Airbus A319.
A dedicated cooperation management has been implemented to guarantee an optimal technical service for Germanwings. A Lufthansa Technik Fleet Manager is based at the airline's headquarters in Cologne/Germany as the single point of contact for every operational issue to guarantee a fully integrated and dovetailed service. Additionally, the two companies have agreed to integrate the existing contracts for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, engineering services, engines, landing gears and components under one perennial frame contract and are in talks to add further services.
"We are very confident that this extended partnership will streamline the services which Germanwings receives from Lufthansa Technik. Following extensive and creative negotiations, Lufthansa Technik has been able to offer us a very competitive solution. An innovative approach for better integration and a one-face-to-the-customer solution have helped us to optimize our structure without loosing core competencies. Additionally, we also could further develop the cost effectiveness of the Germanwings operation," said Dr. Axel Schmidt, Managing Director of Germanwings.
Dr. Peter Jansen, Chief Executive Finance of Lufthansa Technik, said: "Dedication, performance and cost-leadership have been the terms given by our customer. This contract is an exemplary pilot project for a new relationship between airlines and MRO provider. Short decision and support paths, a cross-linked common cooperation management and highly customized, integrated MRO services create a real partnership with significant advantages for both companies.
Over the past months the two partners have decided in a highly sophisticated process which kind of support Lufthansa Technik could complement to the existing MRO competencies of Germanwings. For example, Lufthansa Technik has been able to support the Germanwings own system engineering in the fields of warranty management, records management, through the introduction of the Lufthansa Technik web-suite tool m/archive, and escalation of the operators maintenance program to reduce the maintenance costs.
Additionally, Lufthansa Technik has implemented a dedicated life-limited-parts management for the CFM56 engines of the 12 leased A319 from the Germanwings fleet which considers the lease return conditions at redelivery to the Lessor. In other areas such as Line Maintenance, Material & Logistic Services, the two companies just fine-tuned the existing cooperation structure. The final result of this process is a highly customized and very streamlined service package by Lufthansa Technik which ideally supports Germanwings' operational business.
Germanwings:
The low-cost German carrier Germanwings, a Lufthansa subsidiary, is headquartered in Cologne. Its 1,300 employees and fleet of 30 Airbus A319 aircraft help more 7 million passengers every year travel to over 75 destinations in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The airline's most important locations are Cologne/Bonn, Hanover and Stuttgart.
Lufthansa Technik:
The Lufthansa Technik Group, with more than 30 subsidiaries and about 26,000 employees worldwide, is one of the leading manufacturer-independent 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.