THAI signs Flight Hour Services with Airbus for its A380 fleet

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW – Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has signed a ‘Flight Hour Services -Tailored Support Package’ contract with Airbus to provide aircraft inventory and maintenance support for its A380 fleet.

The contract, which will run for 15 years, provides an extensive scope of A380 line replaceable units and spare parts availability, component repairs, logistics services, and tools availability, as well as APU and nacelle services to Thai Airways. A dedicated Airbus on-site team will assist Thai Airways’ daily spares management ensuring reliable on-time aircraft operations.

Captain Montree Jumrieng, Managing Director of Thai Airways Technical Department said: “This long-term commitment recognizes our confidence in Airbus to deliver the best possible service for our new flagship product. Airbus has developed a customized and tailored offer to perfectly match our operational needs. Having the Airbus supporting our aircraft inventory and maintenance will thus enable us to optimize our A380 daily operations around the world.”

Didier Lux, EVP Customer Services at Airbus said: “We are delighted to welcome Thai Airways International as our newest FHS customer. This is a real sign of trust from the national airline of Thailand, and the start of a long term and successful relationship. We are committed to providing highest quality tailored services to our customer to secure their operational needs by bringing Airbus experience and expertise.”

THAI is one of the longest standing Airbus customers in Asia, having ordered its first A300B4 in April 1977, and today operates almost 50 Airbus aircraft. The airline will become the ninth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2012. THAI has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its premier routes from Bangkok to Europe.

Airbus FHS contracts have now been selected to cover almost 100 aircraft from operators of A330, A340 and A380 aircraft. This new contract reinforces Airbus position on the A380 maintenance market, having now FHS contracts to support 41 aircraft.

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The A380 is the largest, jumbo-size (by size and weight) commercial passenger airliner in the world today. For more info about the A380 aircraft and its family, visit Airbus.com/A380

Broadening the services capability is a priority for Airbus

Airbus has marked a new milestone in the company’s strategy to expand its services offer, adding a key customer for the Airbus Managed Inventory (AMI) solution.

At this week’s Singapore Airshow, the SIA Engineering Company signed for implementation of the AMI service – becoming its inaugural Asia-Pacific customer, as well as being the first for the solution’s “ownership” option, in which the managed parts are Airbus-owned until the moment they are required by the client.

“AMI is very important for our overall services road map, as it rounds out an offer that also includes such products as training and flight hour services,” explained Thomas Ehm, the Airbus Vice President for Material, Logistics and Suppliers.  “Building on the services strategy is something that Airbus has made a priority for the coming years.”

While expanding the services portfolio, Airbus also is growing its global footprint.  This includes the 2011 acquisition of Satair A/S, a leading aviation after-market distributor based in Denmark, whose assets significantly enhance Airbus’ aircraft material management capabilities.

Elsewhere, Sepang Aircraft Engineering – an Airbus subsidiary, and a member of its parent EADS group – provides Southeast Asian maintenance, repair and overhaul services covering airframe, component, engine and cabin refurbishment from its base at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Airbus Media

Bombardier Establishing OEM-Owned Service Centre in Singapore for Business Aircraft

Bombardier’s 10th wholly owned aircraft maintenance facility worldwide and second service center outside of North America.

Bombardier Aerospace today announced that it will open a full-scale company-owned and operated service center in Singapore in 2013. The new service center will form the cornerstone of Bombardier’s comprehensive customer services offering in the Asia-Pacific region and ensure that Bombardier Business
Aircraft customers have even broader access to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)-backed service.

The new facility will be the second service center operated by Bombardier outside of North America, bringing the total number to 10 worldwide. It will be capable of performing a variety of light to heavy maintenance tasks on all Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.

Bombardier’s Singapore Regional Support Office (RSO), opened in late 2011, will work in conjunction with the new service center location as well as the company's current Singapore parts depot. Together with other facilities based in the Asia-Pacific region, Bombardier will create a full-service customer support hub in the region to complement existing regional networks in North America and Europe.

“We want to ensure our customers in the Asia-Pacific region have access to the full range of customer support and services in their own time zone and in their own region. It is a reflection of our commitment to current and future operators that no matter where they fly, they will have access to our OEM-backed support,” said Éric Martel, President, Bombardier Customer Services & Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft.

“By 2030, there could be more than 1,100 business jets in service in the Asia-Pacific region, and we are ready and committed to support our existing and future customers, which we expect will make up a large portion of that fleet,” he added.

Bombardier currently operates 10 dedicated support facilities in the Asia-Pacific region, including five parts depots, as well as RSOs in Tokyo, Japan and Shanghai, China for commercial aircraft; in Singapore and Hong Kong for business aircraft; and in Sydney, Australia for both business and commercial aircraft customers. This network currently supports an installed Bombardier Business Aircraft fleet that had reached a total of 170 aircraft in 2011.

In addition to the Company’s wholly owned service centers, parts depots and regional support offices, Bombardier’s business and commercial aircraft customers have access to a broad network of 56 Authorized Service Facilities and Aircraft-On-Ground Line Maintenance Facilities in 27 countries.

Bombardier  

Ottawa airport ranked No. 2 in world ...

And No. 1 in North America

The Ottawa International Airport is the No. 1 airport in North America and No. 2 in airports of its size worldwide, according to the results of a global quality program released Tuesday. The Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority won the Airport Service Quality awards from the Airports Council International, the global representative of the industry.

The airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, nabbed first place in the category of best airport in the world serving between two million and five million passengers per year. Halifax airport took third place.
Ottawa had faced stiff competition against 225 competitors, including the airports in Indianapolis and Chiang Mai in Thailand. Paul Benoit, president and CEO of the Ottawa airport, gave credit for the airport's showing to its 5,000 employees.

"An airport is a small city," he said. "And this one has great deputies."

The airport got the plum spot after passengers gave high scores in nearly 1,500 surveys, which were filled out at the departure gate throughout 2011. The questions on the survey encompassed 36 different aspects of the airport experience, including staff efficiency, facility cleanliness, and general ambience. A minimum number of the airport service quality (ASQ) surveys are completed each quarter to ensure a variety of passengers are represented. Ottawa airport has ranked in the top three in each of the qualifying categories since the ASQ Awards launched in 2006.

According to an economic impact study by the airport, the location is growing at a rapid pace. Passenger traffic between 2006-2010 at the Ottawa Airport has grown by almost 20 per cent, the study found. This is double the average of the other eight major airports in the country. The airport is also one of the largest economic boosters of any industry in the region, annually contributing an estimated $2.2 billion, with more than 150 organizations operating on-site.

Benoit has seen substantial change in his 15 years with the airport. He remembers a time when passengers had to lug their baggage across an icy outdoor parking lot during snow storms. Now, that same parking lot is indoors."We've taken it from essentially a Third World airport to No. 1," he said. He said part of the change reflects the private companies that the airport relies on for everything from equipment to renovations and coffee. The government doesn't financially support airports in Canada, so there is an estimated $5 million of private funding injected into the airport.

Read more: Ottawa Citizen

Boeing, Singapore Airline Launch GoldCare Operations

Manufacturer, airline work together to reduce operating costs through 747-400 Freighter maintenance engineering.
 
SINGAPORE, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Singapore Airlines Cargo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), today announced that they have entered into a maintenance engineering and planning agreement that results in GoldCare coverage for the cargo carrier's fleet of 13 Boeing 747-400 Freighters.

GoldCare is a centrally managed and tailored materials and engineering service, with optional maintenance execution, that, when combined provides high value for customers by minimizing airline risk, simplifying their business and providing improved cost management.

The long-term performance-based maintenance engineering contract builds upon previous maintenance support products purchased by Singapore Airlines Group, including Boeing's Airplane Health Management, Integrated Materials Management Electronic Flight Bag, Electronic Logbook and Maintenance Performance Toolbox.

"The leadership of Singapore Airlines Group is very forward-thinking and they adopted many of Boeing's IT and spares support products during the time that GoldCare was being developed for the 787 Dreamliner," said Lou Mancini, senior vice president, Commercial Aviation Services for Boeing. "Together with maintenance engineering and planning, this brings together the major elements of GoldCare in a way that tailors the service to the needs of Singapore Airlines Cargo."

"GoldCare is a great example of our new initiative, the Boeing Edge, which brings into focus the unmatched advantage Boeing customers gain through the company's services and support," Mancini added.
A division of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Commercial Aviation Services (CAS), with its 13,000 employees, helps customers maximize the lifetime value of their fleets and operations, providing customers a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Boeing offers comprehensive global support, e-enabled systems and consulting for greater maintenance and operational efficiency, freighter conversions, parts and inventory management, airplane modification, pilot, crew and maintenance training, navigation products and services, and air traffic management solutions.

Boeing Media  

Boeing Edge Sets New Standard for Aviation Services and Support

Industry's largest services and support portfolio gives customers unmatched advantage

SINGAPORE, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today launched the Boeing Edge, a new initiative focused on the unmatched advantage Boeing customers gain through the company's commercial aviation services and support.

"No other company in the world has the breadth and depth of Boeing in terms of knowledge, innovation, commitment and services integration along with the passion of our global team," said Lou Mancini, senior vice president, Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, at the Singapore Air Show. "When customers come to Boeing, they're not just getting world-class support for their businesses, they're gaining a vital advantage over their competition. This advantage now has a name – the Boeing Edge."

Boeing Commercial Aviation Services is organized around four core capabilities - Material Services, Fleet Services, Flight Services and Information Services – an alignment matching the way Boeing's customers run their businesses. Through these capabilities, Boeing offers customers a powerful combination of expertise, innovation and support throughout the lifecycle of their airplanes to get the maximum value out of their fleets and operations. By combining products and services across capabilities, Boeing delivers integrated services programs that meet the current and future needs of customers – giving them an edge in the marketplace.

The Boeing Edge is a service mark – an extension of the Boeing brand - designed to better position the diversity and value of the company's commercial services and support portfolio, the largest in the industry. "The Boeing brand is associated around the world with leadership in aerospace," said Rob Pollack, vice president of Brand and Market Positioning, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The Boeing Edge gives us a platform to communicate the unmatched support and services portfolio Boeing delivers to its customers every day."

Over the next 20 years, Boeing estimates the global market for commercial aviation services will reach $2.3 trillion. The Boeing Edge is sharpening the company's focus to give aviation services customers every advantage they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive operating environment. A division of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Commercial Aviation Services (CAS), with its 13,000 employees, helps customers maximize the lifetime value of their fleets and operations, providing customers a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Boeing offers comprehensive global support, e-enabled systems and consulting for greater maintenance and operational efficiency, freighter conversions, parts and inventory management, airplane modifications, pilot, crew and maintenance training, navigation products and services, and air traffic management solutions. Subsidiaries include Aviall, AeroInfo, Continental DataGraphics, Inventory Locator Service and Jeppesen, as well as joint ventures Aviation Partners Boeing and Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services. For more information, please visit www.boeing.com/boeingedge.

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