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SAEI signs maintenance deal with Aviation Link

By By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR JEDDAH: Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Airlines , recently signed an agreement with Aviation Link Corp. (ALC) whereby SAEI will provide line and base maintenance services for the latter's fleet of VIP aircraft.

The agreement, which comes in line with SAEI's strategic plan to expand its MRO services in Saudi Arabia and the region to both commercial and VIP aircraft, will cover ALC's fleet of A319, A320 and B777 planes.

"SAEI's long-standing experience and capability to perform maintenance on a wide variety of aircraft, aircraft components and engines coupled with various repair station approvals is now being focused on supporting third party business in Saudi Arabia and the region," said Nader Khalawi, the newly appointed CEO of the Saudia company.

"This is an achievement which we are very proud of," said Khalawi, adding that SAEI has a workforce of more than 5,000 engineers and technicians of whom over 90 percent are Saudi.

"Aviation Link Corp. selected SAEI to provide line maintenance support services to our growing fleet of managed aircraft due to their extensive knowledge, experience and capabilities in the aircraft types that we will be operating," said Abdulaziz Al-Rowaished, president & CEO of Aviation Link Corp.

"Our clients need their aircraft to be available 24/7 and by appointing SAEI we are adding another creative and unique solution to ensure that our aircraft are always ready to fly," the president said. The agreement with SAEI would further help ALC in its fleet expansion, making use of A318 and BBJ2 aircraft, he added.

SAEI has more than 55 years of experience in aircraft maintenance, engineering, planning, and fleet management. At present it maintains the fleet of Saudi Arabian Airlines and extends its services to many other customers in Saudi Arabia and around the world. SAEI's current capability includes the A320 family, A330, A340, B737, B747 and B777 series, MD11F, MD90 & ERJ170. The B787 series will soon be added.

Additionally, SAEI handles several business jets such as GII, GIII, GIV, Hawker 400XP, Falcon 900 and Falcon 7X. SAEI has a standalone engines repair and test center that handles various types of engines such as the RB211, PT6A, PW2037, PW2040, PW4462, CF6-80C2, CF34 & V2500. CFM56 engines will be added to its capability in the first quarter of 2012.

Aviation Link Corp. provides total airplane management services for VIP customers in the Middle East including the airplane purchase, interior design and completion, as well as operational and maintenance management.

With a total of 13 airplanes, ALC has been managed through its offices in Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Egypt, and main office in Jeddah. Its fleet ranges from Gulfstreams to Boeing 777s and the number is expanding, the company said.

© Arab News 2011