News
Sichuan Airlines A350 performs maiden flight and signs AFI KLM E&M deal
November 3rd 2017
The first A350-900 destined for Chengdu-headquartered Sichuan Airlines has performed its maiden flight in Toulouse and is undergoing final production, further ground checks and test flights before delivery to the carrier this month. Read More »
Sichuan Airlines, an all-Airbus operator, will receive four A350s – three on lease from AerCap and another on lease from Air Lease Corp. (ALC). The carrier will use the XWBs from China to North America, including to Los Angeles and New York.
Sichuan Airlines is part-owned by the Sichuan Provincial Government, China Southern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and the Gingko Restaurant Co. It flies more than 160 routes, including Sydney, Melbourne, Prague, Vancouver and Los Angeles.
The full-service carrier operates 129 Airbus aircraft: 57 A320s – including two neos – 38 A321s, 23 A319s and eleven A330s.
Sichuan Airlines this week signed a component support agreement with AFI KLM E&M for the incoming A350 fleet, becoming the first Chinese carrier to opt for AFI KLM E&M’s XWB component maintenance solutions.
The contract covers repairs, training sessions, part availability services (access to AFI KLM E&M’s A350 spares pool), the deployment of a main base kit and a forward pool located at the airline’s Chengdu base. The deal also included training Sichuan Airlines staff.
A deciding factor in closing the deal was that AFI KLM E&M works with Delta Air Lines in the U.S. The MRO provider said its partnership with Delta provided an additional guarantee of operational fleet support availability for Sichuan Airlines on routes to North America.
Senior vice president for commercial at AFI KLM E&M, Fabrice Defrance, said: “We are delighted to be working with Sichuan Airlines, which has become our first Chinese partner for our A350 product. We will do our utmost to prove ourselves worthy of the trust shown us by Sichuan Airlines by delivering the most responsive, efficient support possible.”
