SR Technics has signed a contract with Finnair for the provision of heavy maintenance visits (D-checks), including paint works, on two of the airline’s Airbus A320s.

The work will be completed at the SR Technics Centre of Excellence for narrow body aircraft maintenance in Malta, and the first aircraft has already been inducted.

The contract follows the signing of a cornerstone 10-year contract with Finnair in July 2012 for CFM56 engine maintenance, and integrated component services (ICS) support for its Airbus and Embraer fleet.

“We are delighted to extend our strategic partnership with Finnair into the airframe sector. The signing of this contract really demonstrates SR Technics’ ability to work collaboratively with an airline, thus enabling airlines to focus on their core business. We look forward to establishing other mutually beneficial agreements as and when the needs arise,” commented André Wall, president at SR Technics.

SR Technics’ Malta 4,000-square-metre, two-bay hangar opened in October 2010 and has since completed over 70 heavy maintenance checks.

In 2012, the team in Malta implemented lean processes to significantly reduce the time it takes to complete a heavy maintenance check down to just 10 days, while all the time maintaining an unblemished on-time delivery rate.

“This outstanding operational excellence track record played a key role in the final contract decision,” Mr Wall said.