Lufthansa Technik in talks with Jet Airways for technical support programme

Hamburg: Lufthansa Technik, a leading aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) major, has said that it may shortly sign a deal with Jet Airways for the maintenance of its fleet. Lufthansa Technik maintains 1400 airplanes worldwide.

Aage Dunhaupt, director, international communications, Lufthansa Technik said: "Lufthansa Technik has strong relationship with all Indian carriers. We may shortly sign a deal with the Naresh Goyal-promoted Jet Airways."

Without revealing further details, Dunhaupt added, "if the deal is taking place, it will be worth of couple of million dollars."

Lufthansa Technik had recently signed an agreement with Jet Airways for technical and component support for its Airbus A340 and Boeing 737 aircraft fleet. A new deal would likely target Jet's fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft.

Lufthansa Technik is also planning to set up a regional component pool in India to support existing customers through its Indian subsidiary, One Stop Airline MRO Support.

August Wilhelm Henningsen, chairman of the executive board at Lufthansa Technik said: "We are looking at strengthening our existing relationships with the Indian carriers and will expand our support programmes, including a regional component pool, which will shorten delivery times and increase reliability."

According to industry experts, a regional pool in India would help domestic carriers, as at present, Indian carriers source components from the Middle East, Singapore or Europe.
Last month, Kingfisher Airlines and Lufthansa Technik signed an amended contract under which Technik would provide exclusive technical support for the new Airbus A320 fleet over the next ten years.

The Wadia-promoted budget carrier, GoAir, also send its V2500 engines for repair and overhaul to Lufthansa Technik. The company also provides component repairs, as well as structural parts, to Air-India and Indian Airlines.

Lufthansa Technik is a member company of Lufthansa Group.