SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) has signed a S$484m ($364m) services agreement with Singapore-based carrier SilkAir for its new fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Under the deal, SIAEC will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), as well as support services for SilkAir’s new fleet of 37 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for 12 years.

The deal also includes an option to renew for an additional five years.

SilkAir chief executive Foo Chai Woo said: “At SilkAir, we place the safety and reliability of our flight operations as our main priority.

“In a separate development, SIAEC signed a ten-year in-flight entertainment and connectivity maintenance agreement with Thales.”

“As our service partner, SIAEC has provided dependable services and achieved excellent operational efficiencies for our Airbus A320 and Boeing 737NG fleet.”

Currently, SIAEC offers MRO services to SilkAir’s Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft fleet as part of an existing contract.

SIAEC CEO Png Kim Chiang said: “This new services agreement symbolises the continued trust that SilkAir has placed on us, and we will deliver to the high level of quality and service expectations of SilkAir in our provision of the services covered in this contract.”

In a separate development, SIAEC signed a ten-year in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) maintenance agreement with Thales.

The agreement includes Singapore Airlines’ AVANT IFE system and Ka-band connectivity solution provided by Thales and installed on A350 XWB aircraft configured for medium-haul operations.

It will support the SIA fleet with line maintenance, software, and media content loading, as well as other benefits.