KM Malta Airlines the newly founded Maltese national airline became the latest customer of Lufthansa Technik for the maintenance and repair the LEAP-1B engines powering its Airbus A320neo.
The airline which began operations on March 31st 2024 linking the island to, currently 15 major cities relies on a fleet consisting of 8 Airbus 320NEOs. Operating as a full service airline, KM Malta Airline aircraft are configured in two classes consisting of 36 business seats and 132 economy serving destinations comprising Paris and Lyon in France, Berlin, Dusseldorf and Munich in Germany, Milan and Rome in Italy, in addition to Brussels, Vienna, London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Madrid and more. The carrier has also secured a number of commercial codesharing agreements with airlines such as ITA Airways, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa. Focusing on offering a superior passenger experience, the airline recently introduced the Plusgrade product which offers economy class flyer the opportunity to upgrade to business class by making a bid on the company’s website 24 hours before their flight’s departure.
The new partnership with Lufthansa Technik will allow the airline to service the LEAP-1B engines throughout the 9.5 years contract duration. Under the partnership, Lufthansa Technik is to focus on the “quick turns” engine servicing procedures. The quick turns are part of the minor shop visits that engine in their earlier phase of operation must undergo. These minor repair are sometimes limited to replacing high pressure turbine shroud as well as low pressure turbine blade retainers. More intense engine overhaul operations are not covered under this scenario as these normally occur at a much later time during the engine operational life.
Lufthansa Technik positioned itself in the LEAP-1B engine support market on january 1st, 2022 when the CFM Branded Service Agreement (CBSA) signed with CFM, the manufacturer of the LEAP-1B engine took effect. In February 2018, Lufthansa Technik had already became the first independent MRO provider for the LEAP-1A engine that powers the Boeing 737MAX.
According to Lufthansa technik, the CBSA includes extended licenses, access to repairs while ensuring membership in a strong technical knowledge ecosystem. The CSBA help Lufthansa Technik enhances its ability to better answer the specific needs of airline whose needs are uniquely dictated by various requirements at various times during the life cycle of their engines.