Lufthansa Technik recently signed long-term contracts for strategic component support with Wizz Air, Frontier Airlines, and Volaris. Lufthansa’s Total Component Support (TCS) will provide services like spare parts pooling and MRO (maintenance, repair & overhaul) coverage for thousands of part numbers required in regular airline operations.
Apart from the above services, Lufthansa Technik will also provide more specialised service packages to address the airline’s specific individual requirements and tailor the contracted component supply accordingly.
Soeren Stark, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik said: “Wizz Air, Frontier, and Volaris are impressive examples of successful ultra-low-cost carriers that are embarking upon ambitious growth plans. We feel honoured being chosen to accompany and support their success stories as an integral partner. The long-term extension of the components contracts with these three airlines not only underlines our competitiveness in a price-sensitive and more and more digitally-driven market, but it also provides a significant boost for our components business in the Americas and Europe.”
The ten-year contract with Wizz Air Hungary, Wizz Air UK, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and Wizz Air Malta, adds dedicated component lease and supply services to six logistic hubs in Europe namely, Katowice, Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia, Rome, London, and one in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi). Moreover, the contract provides additional flexibility for the airline that can now easily extend it to additional AOCs (Air Operator Certificates) it might set up in the future. Currently, Wizz Air operates a fleet of 166 A320 family aircraft, but it is set to grow to 500 aircraft by 2030.
Michael Delehant, Executive Vice President & Group Chief Operations Officer of Wizz Air said: “Lufthansa Technik is a trusted partner that understands and can support our ambitious growth plans. We look forward to working even more closely with the team as we grow our fleet to 500 aircraft by the end of the decade.”
The agreement with Frontier Airlines also includes special on-site team support in which Lufthansa Technik’s experts will be working hand in hand with the airline’s local teams to supply, return and troubleshoot components at eleven maintenance stations throughout the United States. The airline can also rely on Lufthansa Technik’s extensive local component MRO capabilities. An overarching supply concept also ensures that critical material is strategically positioned in dedicated Homebase stocks and warehouses all across Frontier’s operation. By 2029, Frontier’s fleet will have nearly tripled from 115 A320-family aircraft today to 272 aircraft.
Spencer Thwaytes, Vice President and Treasurer, Frontier Airlines, said: “By extending this relationship through the end of 2031, we are not only showing the trust that we have in Lufthansa Technik to support Frontier’s rapidly growing operation, but we are also establishing a strategic partnership that will only strengthen Frontier’s position as a leader in the ULCC marketplace.”
The contract with Volaris boosts Lufthansa Technik’s components business in the Americas by another triple-digit number of aircraft. From 114 aircraft operating today, the carrier’s fleet is set to almost double in the duration of the contract. Volaris will not only benefit from the MRO provider’s local parts pooling capabilities, they will moreover make intensive use of Lufthansa Technik’s AVIATAR digital operations suite, jointly exploiting smart services such as Condition Monitoring, Reliability Monitoring, and predictive component maintenance with the aim to avoid in-flight component failures and keep the number of technical diversions to a minimum.
Holger Blankenstein, Executive Vice President of Volaris Airlines said: “Volaris will benefit to continue having access to one of the largest and most reliable aircraft component pool, MRO component solutions and home base stock expert advice that will support our three Air Operator’s Certificates in Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica.”
Based on current fleet plans, the new Total Component Support (TCS) deals will ultimately cover approximately 1,000 aircraft of the Airbus A320 family.
