German engine specialist MTU Aero Engines has won a contract from JetBlue Airways to maintain a subfleet of the International Aero Engines V2500s powering its Airbus A320s.
MTU says the exclusive 13-year agreement – set to become active in 2020 – covers mature engines dating back to before IAE introduced the Select configuration on the V2500-A5. The deal runs until retirement of the engines, the number of which has not been specified.
Services will include fleet management, engine trend monitoring, teardown and employment of used serviceable material, optional use of green time or leased engines, and joint fuel-saving efforts with the US airline.
MTU Aero Engines
MTU has been an MRO partner of JetBlue since 2005 and describes the deal as "one of our biggest contracts ever".
Michael Schreyogg – chief programme officer at the engine manufacturer and maintenance provider – states that MTU will be "tailoring services to each and every engine in the fleet, [and thus] proactively maximising engine usage and significantly reducing cost for the airline".
He notes: "Gone are the days of standard MRO. Fleet management... is the future of our industry."
MTU, a shareholder in the IAE consortium, services V2500s at overhaul shops in Hannover, Germany; Vancouver, Canada; and Zhuhai, China.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
