Bombardier Aerospace has signed an exclusive contract with Indianapolis-based Republic Airlines to offer heavy maintenance for its fleet of 32 Q400 aircraft.
Under the nine-year contract, the company’s service centres in Macon, Georgia and Tucson, Arizona will be responsible for maintenance tasks for the airline’s fleet of Q400 aircraft until June 2012.
The agreement will also allow Republic Airlines to sign up its aircraft in the Bombardier Smart Parts programme, which offers viable and expected repair costs and better availability of Q400 aircraft’s major parts.
Republic Airways chairman, president and CEO Bryan Bedford said operating the Q400 aircraft fleet allows Republic to connect and expand destinations under the United Express banner.
"The Smart Parts programme has a proven track record in delivering enhanced cost predictability and component availability and we look forward to incorporating these benefits into our operations," Bedford added.
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By GlobalDataBombardier said that about 1,000 of its business aircraft are currently signed up for its Smart Parts programme, which covers more than 35,000 components.
Following its commencement, the programme has expanded with the implementation of Q400 Smart Parts by regional carriers all over the world, which includes recent a five year extension of Smart Parts agreement by Luxair.
The aircraft maker has eight service centres in the US and one in Amsterdam, Netherlands, while three of the plants in Clarksburg, West Virginia; Macon, Georgia; and Tucson, Arizona, will offer maintenance services for the company’s commercial aircraft.
The short-haul operation capable, 70 to 80-seated Q400 aircraft offers enhanced operating economics with reduced environmental traces.Bombardier currently has 428 orders booked for the aircraft, while the delivered ones are operational with nearly 40 operators globally.
Image: Bombardier and Republic Airlines officials during the signing of exclusive Q400 aircraft maintenance agreement. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.
