SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka announced the signing of a long term Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agreement withInterGlobe Aviation Limited (“IndiGo”) , India’s fastest growing low-cost airlines with the largest market share, consisting of a fleet of 78 Airbus A320 aircraft flying 482daily flights to 36 destinations.
The agreement, comes into effect from 1 April 2014, and will see SriLankan Airlines’ Engineering Division carry out ‘C’ checks on IndiGo’s entire Airbus fleet.
SriLankan, which has been providing such MRO services to IndiGo since February 2009 on an annual contract basis, reached the impressive milestone of completing the 100thIndiGo ‘C’check in January this year.
SriLankan Airlines Head of Engineering, Mr.Priyantha Rose attributed SriLankan Engineering’s excellent maintenance track record and relationship with IndiGo over the last five years to the success of the new agreement, which was awarded on a competitive basis.
“We have developed an excellent relationship with the IndiGo management in the last five years and the selection of SriLankan to continue to provide maintenance services was aided in no small part by a meeting of the leadership of both airlines which took place late last year in Delhi, as part of initiatives to expand the scope of services and mutual cooperation in the areas of flight training, GSA networks and other areas in the Aviation field.”
The agreement which will secure a multi-million dollar revenue for SriLankan over the long duration of the agreement, comes at a time when the Government of Sri Lanka is focusing on promoting the country as an aviation hub, in line with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future’, and aviation services as a key economic development that demonstrates the market-based viability of constructing MRO, Training and other related infrastructure facilities at the country’s second international Airport Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in Hambantota, which celebrated its first year of operations in March this year. The commitment to by the Government to build the new MRO facility will also give a much needed boost as a strategic investment in the country’s Deep South hub and will contribute enormously towards increased employment thereby assisting the country’s already impressive economic development.
Speaking further on the benefits of the MRO agreement to the country, SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena said:“This agreement stands as confirmation of the level of trust SriLankan Engineering has always maintained among its partners and the efficiency of world class service offerings it has maintained in its 30 year long history of operations. In addition, with Sri Lanka fast moving ahead in terms of developing itself as a hub for air and sea transport, this agreement will kick start the MRO operations at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport which will deliver the same high quality and efficiency. SriLankan Airlines remains committed to helping see the vision set out by the Government to develop the five economic metro regions of Sri Lanka, come to fruition. This agreement will not only bring about increased foreign investment and exchange, but it will also boost both the opportunities and need for skilled labour in order to facilitate this agreement with IndiGo.”
SriLankan Airlines Engineering, with a staff of 600 highly trained, qualified and dedicated Engineers, Technicians and Support staff, has a proven track record in aircraft maintenance, having provided industry recognised quality maintenance services to state-of-the-art technology Aircraft, for the past two decades. Its specialities lie in servicing and repair of airframes, engines, component maintenance and inventory management, Base Maintenance services in Colombo, up to and including Aircraft Overhaul, along with its satellite operations located in South India and Male, enabling it to provide line maintenance support at important locations in the region.
