Airbus and Air France-KLM have launched a joint venture to provide component support and maintenance services for operators of the Airbus A350, combining the manufacturer’s Flight Hours Services (FHS) business with Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M).
Named Alpha Component Solutions, the new entity will manage a worldwide shared-access pool of aircraft components. Its activities will include access to component assets, maintenance services, supply-chain management and repairs for A350 customers.
Support for a growing widebody fleet
The venture is being established as the A350 fleet expands across the global airline industry. Airbus said it has delivered 737 A350 aircraft and has a further 1,624 aircraft on order. The first A350 entered commercial service with Qatar Airways in 2015.
Airbus and Air France-KLM said Alpha Component Solutions already contractually supports more than 500 aircraft. The partners plan to extend the operation as the number of A350s in service increases and airlines require access to replacement components and associated maintenance capability.
| Alpha Component Solutions | Details |
|---|---|
| Partners | Airbus and Air France-KLM |
| Airbus business | Flight Hours Services |
| Air France-KLM business | Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance |
| Services | Component pooling, maintenance, supply-chain management and repairs |
Airbus and Air France-KLM said the structure is intended to give operators broader access to component support while integrating the manufacturer’s services with the operational maintenance experience of an airline group. The partners described the offer as a way to provide solutions tailored to individual customers’ operational requirements.
“This joint venture represents a major step forward in enhancing our A350 component support, bringing together the expertise and resources of both Airbus and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance to deliver optimized solutions to our customers worldwide,” said Cristina Aguilar Grieder, Senior Vice President Customer Services Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.
Airline and aftermarket implications
Component availability is a central part of maintaining aircraft fleet availability, particularly as widebody operators manage long-haul schedules and increasingly diverse supply chains. Under the new arrangement, customers will be able to draw on a shared pool rather than relying solely on individually held inventories, while the partners will also provide repair and supply-chain services.
The largest A350 operators listed by the partners include Singapore Airlines with 65 aircraft, Qatar Airways with 64, Cathay Pacific with 48, Air France with 43 and Delta Air Lines with 42. Other operators identified include Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Air China and Japan Airlines.
- Airbus has delivered 737 A350 aircraft to date.
- A further 1,624 A350 aircraft are on Airbus’ order book.
- Alpha Component Solutions already contractually supports more than 500 aircraft.
Air France-KLM’s engineering and maintenance organisation brings direct airline operating experience to the venture, while Airbus contributes its manufacturer-backed Flight Hours Services platform. The companies said the combined operation would strengthen component pooling and maintenance integration for A350 operators worldwide.
