France-headquartered manufacturer joint venture OEMServices is expanding its Airbus-centred component maintenance business to ATR turboprops and the Sukhoi Superjet 100 - but has also set its eyes on Boeing aircraft for the long-term future.
The company was founded by Airbus suppliers Diehl, Liebherr, Thales and Zodiac in 2005, after the airframer made clear to them that it wanted to conduct its after-market business directly with the operators and not involve the component manufacturers.
"It's our business," said Daniel Malka, vice-president for avionics services worldwide at Thales. The equipment manufacturers need the maintenance business income to be able to develop new products, he added.
By winning the A380 customers Emirates and Singapore Airlines, the joint venture was not "on the defensive any more", Malka said. Today, the company comprises around 15 equipment manufacturers for the Airbus product line. Around 53% of the turnover comes from component maintenance, with the remainder being logistics and distributions services. However, the component MRO business is to take an 80% share in future.
In light of airlines choosing increasingly power-by-the-hour contracts, the company needs to improve its component pooling services and on-site repair facilities, said Alain Leboucher, OEMServices' sales, marketing and business development executive vice-president.
Turkey's Onur Air has just extended its partnership with the joint venture to its entire A320/A321 fleet.
- All the latest news, images and video from the 2011 Paris air show
Source: Flight Daily News
