Inflite MRO-Services, part of the Inflite Group, has secured a new, long-term contract with Spairliners GmbH, the Lufthansa Technik/Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance JV business, to handle component repair work on the Embraer E-Jet 170 and 190 airliners. The contract was signed during the MRO Europe Show in London this week.
When work is set to commence in 2020, Inflite will be supporting a wide range of E-Jet rotable components for Spairliners’ E-Jet customers, including difficult to transport and hazardous items. Work will be carried out at its dedicated components workshops at London Southend Airport.
“This is a milestone win for our components business and we are delighted to be starting work with Spairliners, a prestigious company, supporting the industry’s leading regional jet family.” Christoffer Creutz, Managing Director of Inflite MRO Services, London Stansted based Inflite The Jet Centre and Excellence Aviation commented.
“It endorses the regular component work we have been doing on E-Jets these past few years and complements our role as Europe’s leading Authorised Service Centre on Embraer business jets, at our London Stansted Airport HQ.”
“We look forward to cooperating with Inflite MRO Services in order to allow us to gain more flexibility in this changing market and take advantage of their comprehensive capabilities,” said Benoît Rollier, Chief Financial Officer at Spairliners.
Inflite MRO Services has been increasingly active supporting E-Jet family components, supporting several customers ad hoc, including Flybe. It is a major shift for the business, which built its reputation as a specialist BAe 146 support centre. With more BAe 146s moving overseas, Inflite has moved into more modern types, including the Airbus A320 and B737. New branding and a new website reflects the transition. www.inflite-mro.co.uk.
The Inflite Group sold its hangar at London Southend Airport a few years ago, but is currently in dialogue with airport management regarding a new facility as the MRO business grows, Christoffer Creutz confirmed.
“We run this business like a family, replicating the importance on customer service and attention to detail that our sister company Inflite The Jet Centre delivers to its VIP charter customers at our London Stansted HQ,” said Inflite MRO Services Commercial Manager Trevor Wood.
Trevor joined Inflite five years ago and is especially proud of Inflite’s active apprenticeship programme. The business has seven apprentices in total – at Southend and Stansted. Last year The Inflite Group donated a 1982-built out of service Bombardier Challenger 600 to its neighbour, the new Stansted Airport College, for its students to work on.