Oman Air, national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has entered into a joint venture with Lufthansa Technik to provide technical support for the airline’s modern and growing fleet and for other customers in the region. A Letter of Intent (LoI) to this effect was signed by Peter Hill, Chief Executive Officer, Oman Air and Wilhelm Henningsen, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik AG, at the Dubai Air show on 16 November.

Peter Hill said that his growing airline is very pleased to be associated with a high quality service provider in the MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhaul) business such as Lufthansa Technik and saw more mutually beneficial opportunities in the field of engineering and maintenance.

Peter Hill adds:

“With fleet and network growth, this cooperation will ensure Oman Air continues to raise and maintain its legendary on-time performance and high product standards throughout its fleet and routes.’’

During 2009 Oman Air has signed a seven-year Total Component Support TCS® contract with the Hamburg-based company to provide component support for its new Airbus A330 fleet. The contract covers a range of services from provisioning components at the operational site to repairs, overhauls, documentation and engineering services.

Oman Air is also working with Lufthansa Technik to maintain its Boeing 737 NG fleet. On the basis of a contract signed recently, and from January 2010, a total of 15 C-checks will be carried out for Oman Air in the Lufthansa Technik Group’s operations in Malta, Budapest and Sofia. The three maintenance facilities work to the latest standards and are able to offer minimal turnaround times at competitive prices.

A new, state-of-the-art hangar will be built at Muscat International Airport, which is in the middle of a modernisation and expansion program to deal with the increase in the number of tourists coming to Oman. From 2012, it will be possible for up to two wide body and two narrow body aircraft to be handled in the hangar. Here, over 300 technicians and mechanics will offer aircraft maintenance through to light C-checks for Airbus A330, Boeing 737 NG, ATR 42 and other fleet type belonging to Oman Air and other customers.

Wilhelm Henningsen, of Lufthansa Technik AG, said during the signing ceremony:

“With this strategic partnership between Oman Air and Lufthansa Technik, we are strengthening a well-established cooperative relationship. In the future we will be able to offer technical services directly in Oman to customers in a region that is one of the growth markets of international aviation.”