Q400 Nextgen

Bombardier Aerospace has appointed Ethiopian Airlines of Addis Ababa as an authorised service facility (ASF) for its commercial aircraft customers.

The Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to authorise the carrier to provide line and heavy maintenance service on Q400 and Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft.

The agreement is expected to take effect by late-August this year.

Ethiopian Airlines operates complete aircraft, engine and component overhaul and repair facilities at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

The facility has an all-Ethiopian workforce of more than 750 licensed technicians and support staff.

Bombardier Aerospace customer services and specialised and amphibious aircraft president Éric Martel said that this agreement with Ethiopian Airlines would provide the growing number of Bombardier operators in this region with more options for maintenance support closer to their base of operations.

"We are enthusiastic about the many new opportunities for commercial aviation in Africa and, through sustained investment and focus, we are expanding our support services on the continent at an accelerated pace," Martel said.

Ethiopian Airlines is the flagship carrier of Ethiopia and currently operates a fleet of 13 Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners.

"The agreement is expected to take effect by late-August this year."

It will join a network of more than 60 ASF and line maintenance facilities (LMF) that serve operators of Bombardier business and commercial aircraft spanning across more than 25 countries worldwide.

The Ethiopian Airlines ASF will work in collaboration with Bombardier’s maintenance network of wholly owned service centres and ASFs in the same time zone, as well as its network of parts hubs and depots.

Meanwhile, Bombardier is adding a new regional support office (RSO) and parts depot to its network in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The office and depot will serve Bombardier business and commercial aircraft customers in Africa.

Both the Johannesburg RSO and parts depot are co-located at Bombardier’s business aircraft authorised service facility (ASF), ExecuJet South Africa’s facility at the Lanseria Airport.

Image: Ethiopian Airlines ASF will provide line and heavy maintenance service on Q400 and Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.

Defence Technology