SR Technics - one of the biggest names in airline maintenance, repair and overhaul - is moving into Airbus and Boeing business jet completions and maintenance, a sector dominated by fellow Swiss company Jet Aviation and Lufthansa Technik.
The Zurich-based MRO is teaming with long-established business aviation group TAG Aviation of Geneva to help it break into the market and offer a portfolio of services to customers. All work will be carried out in Switzerland. "It's a win-win for both companies and allows us to complete the circle," says Michael Gringmuth, sales manager VIP aircraft services for SR Technics.
Gringmuth says the company is "available to talk to customers", but will not "rush into the completions market" and "will take it very slow". However, the move marks a radical departure for the MRO house under its new chief operating officer André Wall, who was formerly with Jet Aviation.
Under previous management, the company - majority-owned by Mubadala of Abu Dhabi - had said it had no plans to enter the business aviation sector.
Meanwhile, TAG signed at the show a proposed alliance with China First Mandarin Group, a maintenance provider and charter operator from Shenyang with a fleet of eight mostly Bombardier Challengers. Once the venture, in which TAG will have a 49% share, is approved, the two companies will adopt a combined brand and joint management team in the People's Republic.
TAG chief executive Rob Wells says the arrangement has been under discussion for 18 months. After five years, the new business could be offering up to 30 aircraft in China, he says.
TAG also announced that it is in the "final process" of obtaining its air operator's certificate from Bahrain.
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Source: Flight Daily News
