Airbus

Airbus has entered a flight hour services (FHS) components support agreement to provide services to Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways’ new fleet of 48 A350 XWBs on order, which includes 22 A350-900s and 26 A350-1000s.

Under the long-term agreement, Airbus will provide spare parts, maintenance and logistics services at Cathay Pacific’s main base and at selected outstations, as well as flight simulator support.

The contract also includes integrated material services (IMS), where the purchasing and planning of the airline’s A350 XWB expendables inventories are outsourced to Airbus’s materials management subsidiary, Satair Group.

Cathay Pacific Airways engineering director Christopher Gibbs said: "Ensuring a smooth entry-into-service of our new A350 XWB widebody fleet, with the first aircraft now undergoing assembly in Toulouse, will be paramount to Cathay Pacific’s success in our highly competitive and fast growing market.

"To help us to continue this success, we are confident that Airbus’ tailored and cost-effective FHS support services will enable us to deliver the highest performance of our A350 operations from day one."

"Airbus will provide spare parts, maintenance and logistics services."

As of the end of February, the A350 XWB programme had secured 777 firm orders from 41 customers worldwide, with nearly 40% intended for the Asia-Pacific region.

Cathay Pacific represents one fifth of the A350 XWB total orders from Asia-Pacific. With this new deal with the carrier, Airbus FHS contracts have now been selected to cover more than 240 aircraft, ranging from the A320, A330, A380 to A350 XWB.

Airbus has noted that through its ‘Services by Airbus’ programme, it provides end-to-end fleet lifecycle solutions to all of its customers.

The portfolio covers standalone services, complete integrated solutions, including flight hour and tailored support packages, upgrades, training, e-solutions, engineering and maintenance, flight operations air traffic management, and material management services.

In February, Airbus signed a flight hour services,tailored support package (FHSTSP) contract with Singapore Airlines (SIA). It will integrate and provide full component support, line and base airframe maintenance, as well as fleet technical management services for SIA’s 19 A380s.

Image: The FHS contract also includes integrated material services (IMS). Photo: courtesy of Airbus SAS.