Gallery: Europe’s Latest Aftermarket Developments

Fokker Services Group announced plans in early October to open a new widebody maintenance hangar at its MRO and completion center at Woensdrecht Airport in the Netherlands. Fokker says the facility will have capacity for several widebodies, including Airbus A330, A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

The facility is currently under construction and expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2023.

MTU Maintenance opened a new Serbian maintenance facility in early October. The 420,000 ft.² facility in Nova Pazova, near Belgrade, will specialize in parts repairs. It is currently focused on testing machinery and plans to begin revenue work in December.

MTU says the facility, operating as MTU Maintenance Serbia, will have capacity for around 400,000 repair hours annually.

Magnetic Engines expanded its engine shop in Tallinn, Estonia in late September. The expansion more than doubles its space to 1,000 m² (approximately 10,764 ft.²) and provides spaces for engine and component shops, storage and offices.

Magnetic Engines says the extra space will enable it to work on up to five engines in parallel and store up to 10 engines. It will also provide space to keep more disassembled engines in the shop while parts are sent for repair.

UK low-cost carrier easyJet signed a deal with Airbus in late September to roll out two flight-management system (FMS) software updates across its fleet. The updates, which will optimize its flight trajectories, are part of its plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Upgrades on the 300-aircraft fleet are underway and expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The airline says the modification involves a quick software upgrade, and new aircraft on order will be line-fitted with the FMS upgrades as standard.

Sabena Technics acquired French helicopter operator Heli-Union on Sept. 29, which it hopes will boost its position in the military helicopter market. In addition to operating a fleet of helicopters for special mission and utility tasks, Heli-Union provides MRO for a wide range of rotorcraft. Sabena Technics says the acquisition enables it to provide rotary wing support services similar to its fixed-wing services for military aircraft.

Lufthansa released a policy brief on Sept. 5 noting that the European Commission’s Data Act will pave the way for airlines to access and control their operating data. The regulatory proposal would make it mandatory for manufacturers to share operating data with aircraft owners.

According to Lufthansa, the proposal would provide significant opportunities for airlines to access their data and share it with third-party suppliers, such as MROs, which could potentially reduce OEM control over aftermarket services.

New Ukrainian MRO Sky-Stream opened a line maintenance station at Antalya Airport in Turkey in late August. The move was a pivot after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sidelined its initial plans to perform line maintenance at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv.

The Antalya line station was planned to be operational until October, and Sky-Stream is now planning to open several more line maintenance stations in other countries.

Virgin Atlantic in late August partnered with UK-based parts specialist Bii to oversee consignment and storage of surplus inventory from widebodies retired from its fleet over the past two years. Bii will manage the surplus assets from its warehouse near London Gatwick Airport, including marketing the material for sale, exchange or loan.

Independent MRO 2Excel Engineering gained approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority to provide maintenance services for Airbus A320neo aircraft. It will now offer heavy maintenance services up to C check on the aircraft from its base in Lasham, Hampshire.

ASL Aviation Holdings bought out Sabena Technics’ share in Brussels-based Part 145 specialist X-air Services in early August. According to ASL, the acquisition will secure maintenance expertise needed for the Boeing 737-400 classic freighter aircraft operated by ASL Airlines Belgium and its other airlines. It will also give it in-house maintenance capabilities for its growing fleet of 737-800 BCF aircraft.

Satair signed an agreement in late July to acquire aviation logistics and aftermarket services provider VAS Aero Services. While the company will be acquired under Satair’s U.S. business, it will continue to operate as a separate entity both in the U.S. and in Hounslow, UK.

Satair says the acquisition enhances its capabilities to serve customers and OEMs through the complete aircraft lifecycle.

Spanish MRO Air Nostrum Engineering and Maintenance (ANEM) signed an agreement July 20 with MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) to become an MHIRJ Authorized Service Facility. Prior to this agreement, MHIRJ’s only European Authorized Service Facility was Adria Tehnika in Slovenia.

ANEM is a subsidiary of Air Nostrum, which operates 37 CRJ Series aircraft. MHIRJ says its addition to its maintenance network will grow its European support structure and create additional capacity for CRJ operators in the region.

Rolls-Royce secured TotalCare services agreements with two European startup airlines in July. British low-cost carrier flypop signed an agreement covering the Trent 700 engines powering its four Airbus A330ceos. Meanwhile, Norse Atlantic Airways signed an agreement covering the Trent 1000 engines powering its fleet of 15 Boeing 787s.

ITA Airways signed agreements in July with Rolls-Royce and Airbus at the Farnborough International Airshow. Its 12-year TotalCare agreement with Rolls-Royce covers off-wing repair and overhaul for Trent XWB engines powering its fleet of six Airbus A350-900s. ITA also signed up for Airbus’ Skywise Health Monitoring fleet performance software, which gives it access to real-time maintenance data.

Boeing announced plans on July 15 to add a second passenger-to-freighter conversion line for 737-800BCF aircraft at its London Gatwick facility. The new line will begin converting aircraft in November.

Boeing began its first conversion line at the site in May for Icelandic lessor Icelease. The facility also offers base maintenance, line maintenance, lease transitions and modifications work for 737NG, 737 MAX, 777 and 787 aircraft.

Caerdav announced plans in mid-July to create 100 new jobs thanks to a £4 million ($4.5 million) investment from asset management firm BOOST&Co. The jobs will be added at its hangar complex in St. Athan, Wales, where it specializes in line and base maintenance for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.

Aeroflot announced July 5 that it would transfer to subsidiary A-Technics all its aircraft maintenance facilities and staff by the end of 2022. Previously, Aeroflot completed 46% of maintenance work in-house, while A-Technics handled 39% and Rossiya handled 15%.

A-Technics will take on three hangars at Aeroflot’s home base at Moscow Sheremetyevo airport, as well as component repair shops, line maintenance stations and spare parts warehouses. According to A-Technics CEO Mikhail Korobovich, Aeroflot’s outsourcing will help it cut maintenance expenses.

JMC Group subsidiary Complete Aircraft Group (CAG) in June acquired Aerocare Aviation Services, a UK-based MRO, interiors and paint specialist. CAG, which provides aircraft tooling, parts and components for a variety of commercial aircraft types, says the acquisition will break it into the business aircraft segment while potentially expanding Aerocare’s capabilities for larger commercial aircraft.

Aircraft parts and services provider Bii acquired a large inventory of Boeing spare parts from lessor Aircraft Finance Germany on May 31. Bii said the inventory included high ticket rotable components, with many of the spares being interchangeable between 747-8, 767 and 777 aircraft types.

Vallair invested in a new workforce training initiative in mid-May with French Part 147 training organization Aircraft Academy. The program will include online and in-person training, with practical training provided at Vallair’s facilities in Chateauroux and Montpellier.

Vallair is hoping the initiative will help it recruit and train 300 mechanics and engineers over the next five years, which it needs to help staff its new Chateauroux maintenance hangar that opened in February.