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Air India has solidified its commitment to ensuring top-notch maintenance services for its Airbus A320 fleet by entering into a groundbreaking partnership with SIA Engineering Company Ltd (SIAEC). This 12-year agreement, dubbed the Inventory Technical Management Programme, marks a significant milestone in Air India’s quest for operational excellence.
Under this collaboration, Air India Group’s current Airbus A320 family aircraft will benefit from comprehensive component support provided by SIAEC. This entails access to SIAEC’s extensive inventory pool, as well as repair and overhaul services for airframe and on-wing engine components. By leveraging SIAEC’s expertise and resources, Air India aims to enhance the reliability and availability of critical components, thereby optimizing aircraft operations.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India, expressed his delight at the partnership, emphasizing the positive impact it will have on the airline’s maintenance competencies. He highlighted the importance of bolstering repairs and maintenance capabilities for the Airbus A320 family, a cornerstone of Air India’s fleet.
Chin Yau Seng, Chief Executive Officer of SIAEC, echoed Wilson’s sentiments, expressing gratitude for being selected as Air India Group’s preferred Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) partner. Seng underscored the confidence placed in SIAEC’s Inventory Technical Management program, stressing its role in supporting Air India Group’s growth and expansion plans. With a network of joint venture companies and component shops across the Asia Pacific region, SIAEC is poised to deliver high-quality and reliable services to Air India Group.
This partnership comes at a pivotal moment for Air India, which already boasts an existing fleet of A320 family aircraft. The airline’s ambitious plans for expansion are further underscored by its recent order of an additional 210 A320 family aircraft, part of a record-breaking order of 470 aircraft placed in 2023. With such a substantial fleet, ensuring seamless maintenance operations becomes paramount, and collaboration with SIAEC is a strategic move towards achieving this objective.
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, partnerships like the one between Air India and SIAEC serve as a testament to the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving operational efficiency and ensuring passenger safety. With a shared commitment to excellence, both entities are poised to chart new heights in the realm of aircraft maintenance, setting a benchmark for the industry as a whole.
