Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, today announced that it has awarded a 15-year contract for Boeing 787 aircraft component support to Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aerospace), the aerospace arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering).

 

Under the agreement, ST Aerospace will provide comprehensive component maintenance-by-the-hour (MBH) support covering component exchange, repair, overhaul, modification, reliability monitoring and logistics services for Gulf Air’s new fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

 

Gulf Air Deputy Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed Abdulhameed Al Alawi said: “ST Aerospace has demonstrated that it is the right partner for Gulf Air as we drive forward with our fleet renewal programme in preparation to welcome our new aircraft which commence delivery in the second quarter of 2018.”

 

"We are happy to play a role in Gulf Air's fleet renewal plan, which will see its fleet of 787-9 expanding to 10 aircraft in the coming years. This multi-year component support contract that Gulf Air has awarded us speaks of the value we can create for, and deliver to, our customers through our hallmark Component MBH programme,” said Lim Serh Ghee, President, ST Aerospace.

 

ST Aerospace's MBH programme, renowned for its flexibility and high level of customisation, is well established and popular among its global customers.  For a fixed rate per hour, the airlines select a range of support services and pay a corresponding flight per hour rate, which is pre-determined. In this way, operators are able to keep operating costs low and also minimise fixed asset inventory holdings in terms of spares or maintenance equipment, a statement said.

 

Today, ST Aerospace provides integrated component support for a fleet of close to 600 aircraft on the MBH basis, for over 20 aircraft operators in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

 

Gulf Air operates scheduled services to 42 destinations in 25 countries.  - TradeArabia News Service