Lufthansa Technik (LHT) has launched a consulting project with Southwest Airlines (SWA) aimed at improving the US low-cost carrier's maintenance management and reducing the cost of supporting its fleet of 300 Boeing 737s.
SWA plans to adopt "as many elements as possible" of LHT's maintenance programme, says the German company. Frankfurt- based LHT engineers have already been seconded to SWA's Dallas maintenance centre for the project.
"Working with LHT will enable us to concentrate more fully on our core competencies and lower costs," says SWA director of maintenance contracts Dave Fisher.
LHT says the first phase of the programme will analyse the US airline's flight operations to determine "which parts of the LHT maintenance concept it can most advantageously adopt". The work will also compare SWA's maintenance intervals with those of Lufthansa and identify opportunities for introducing upgraded IT systems.
Source: Flight International
