Canadian airline WestJet has signed a comprehensive Total Technical Support (TTS) contract with Lufthansa Technik AG for the technical support of its future Boeing 787 fleet. WestJet also becomes the first customer for Lufthansa Technik's digital platform AVIATAR in the Americas. The agreement includes integrated component supply, aircraft production inspections and line maintenance. The airline has ordered ten Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and has options for another ten jets, with the first aircraft to be delivered to WestJet at the beginning of 2019.
"WestJet's addition of the Boeing 787 plays an important role in growing our global presence," said John Kelly, WestJet Vice President, Technical Operations. "In Lufthansa Technik we have found the ideal partner to support this growth. Their technical support in combination with their digital fleet solution will ensure high aircraft availability from the first day of operation and onward."
Lufthansa Technik will ensure the global and fast supply of components to WestJet's 787 fleet as part of a Total Component Support (TCS). The contract covers the global availability of 787 components. In addition to a spare parts pooling concept, Lufthansa Technik will also stock inventories at the airline's bases in Calgary and Toronto.
Furthermore, Lufthansa Technik will support WestJet's Dreamliners with line maintenance services at up to ten stations worldwide and support the airline with engineering services such as maintenance planning and troubleshooting. Lufthansa Technik's proprietary Cyclean system will be used for regular engine washes. Lufthansa Technik experts will also be monitoring and assuring the production quality of the airline's new 787s at the manufacturer's assembly site within the framework of an Aircraft Production Inspection Program (APIP).
"We are very proud that WestJet has decided to put its trust in our comprehensive range of 787 services," said Frank Berweger, Vice President Corporate Sales Americas at Lufthansa Technik. "This contract is a milestone for Lufthansa Technik and our digital MRO platform AVIATAR in the Americas. We will support WestJet in the digital management of their fleet in real time, making operations more predictable and reliable. With AVIATAR, we provide the perfect tool to forecast probabilities of failure of components.