ST Aerospace expects the recent incorporation of its San Antonio VIP completions business will improve efficiency.
In early October the company announced that the San Antonio unit would be incorporated as a subsidiary, Aeria Luxury Interiors, by ST Aero's VT San Antonio Aerospace unit.
Under the new arrangement, Aeria will operate under its own Part 145 repair station certificate. In an email to FlightGlobal, ST Aero explained the reasoning for the change.
"The VIP completion division used to operate under the same repair station certificate as parent company, VT SAA, which also has businesses in MRO. Operating the two businesses under one repair station certificate was difficult and inefficient due to the different processes and procedures involved."
Aeria's certificate covers single and twin-aisle Boeing types, with Airbus types to be added next year.
ST Aero adds that 70% of the unit's work involves new jet instatllations, and 30% is maintenance, refurbishments, and upgrades.
The company also sounded a bearish note about the VIP completions space: "The demand for VIP completion has softened, while there are too many completion centres chasing a few projects."
Source: FlightGlobal.com
