SWISS expands its Basel technical services
24 August 2005
SWISS Technical Services is further developing its position as one of the leading maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in the regional aircraft sector. The unit has concluded a comprehensive long-term maintenance agreement with Blue1, the Finnish-based carrier, covering five Saab 2000 aircraft. SWISS Technical Services will also be ramping up its Avro RJ heavy maintenance activities, extending these to the Avro RJ85s of Lufthansa CityLine. In view of the higher work volumes, the Basel-based unit will be recruiting up to 50 new technical personnel.
Swiss International Air Lines can draw on many years of experience in providing regional aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services that are closely aligned to customer carrier needs. SWISS currently offers MRO services for Avro RJ, Saab 2000 and Embraer 145 equipment which include aircraft, engine, propeller and component maintenance, repair and overhaul along with total technical care concepts that extend to engineering, planning and spares supplies.
The new collaboration between SWISS and Lufthansa will bear its first fruit in the MRO field this autumn when SWISS performs its first heavy maintenance check on a Lufthansa CityLine Avro RJ85. The partners plan to further exploit the synergies offered in the maintenance of the SWISS and Lufthansa CityLine Avro RJ85/100 fleets in the longer term, by ensuring that maintenance work previously entrusted to external providers is performed within the Lufthansa Group.
In a further development, SWISS has concluded a long-term MRO agreement with Finnish-based Blue1, a member of the Star Alliance, for the maintenance of the carrier’s five Saab 2000s. SWISS is one of the leading providers of MRO services for this aircraft type.
To handle the increased work volumes represented by the Lufthansa CityLine and Blue1 business, SWISS Technical Services will be doubling its fixed capacity from the present single heavy maintenance or “C Check” line. The unit will also be expanding its workforce by up to 50 new technical personnel.
In addition to its flying staff, SWISS currently employs some 750 personnel in Basel, just under 400 of them in its Technical Services unit. By expanding its technical workforce, SWISS is also consolidating its position as one of the biggest employers at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.