Honeywell has entered a deal to provide services under its GoDirect Maintenance Service programme to Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines (HNA).

The Honeywell GoDirect Maintenance Service will use connectivity and data analytics to improve maintenance operations and reduce equipment downtime of HNA’s aircraft fleet.

As part of the new arrangement, more than 50 Airbus A330 aircraft operated by HNA will be equipped with Honeywell's Connected Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) predictive maintenance service that will enhance fleet availability by identifying potential mechanical issues or failures before they occur.

“The business and passenger impact of Honeywell's Connected APU service for Hainan Airlines is significant."

HNA’s future fleet of more than 40 A330 aircraft will also be equipped with Honeywell’s Connected APU service, which uses an existing data connection on the aircraft to download APU maintenance and fault data to predict impending hardware failures. These are seen as typical causes of APU interruptions.

Thee APU fault data is then shared with Honeywell and analysed before being presented back to Hainan Airlines' maintenance team.

The data identifies what maintenance actions are required to fix the APU and help avoid unexpected maintenance events.

Honeywell Aerospace Asia Pacific airlines vice-president Brian Davis said: “The business and passenger impact of Honeywell's Connected APU service for Hainan Airlines is significant.

“Not only will the airline receive better and more predictive maintenance services that will reduce mechanical delays and cancellations, it will also improve first-time fix rate, reduce false removals and improve passenger experience.

“This is a monumental agreement not only for Honeywell and Hainan Airlines, but for the aerospace industry as it undergoes a digital transformation that's opening up new forms of data-sharing and changing the industry as we know it.”

According to Honeywell, its GoDirect Maintenance Service can also help reduce airlines expenses and equipment downtime by minimising unscheduled maintenance events.