Finnair Technical Services and Finncomm Airlines sign Maintenance Agreement

Finnair Technical Services and Finncomm Airlines have signed an agreement for the maintenance support of ATR turboprop aircraft  engines. The agreement includes four ATR42-500s and seven ATR72-500s to be acquired by Finncomm in 2005-2009 as well as a possible five additional aircraft the airline has options for.

“Supplying engine maintenance support to Finncomm strengthens cooperation between Finnair and Finncomm. We believe that as a Finnish service provider we can ensure Finncomm the fastest, most flexible, best quality and on the whole most affordable engine support,” said VP Tuomo Karhumäki from the Finnair Technical Services Engine Department.

The duration of the agreement is 12 years for each engine meaning that it is in effect until 2021. The total value of the agreement is at least 30 million euros, which will be divided over several years.

“Finnair Technical Services is able to offer us the most cost efficient and logistically affordable engine support solution, which complements Finncomm’s own maintenance organisation. Finnair Technical Services’ longstanding international reputation in Pratt&Whitney turboprop engine technology also played an important part in our decision,” said Finncomm Airlines Managing Director Juhani Pakari.

The engine support agreement includes all different types of maintenance as well as engine changes. The Finncomm project will allow Finnair Engine Department to expand its know-how to the maintenance of the newest engine types used in ATR aircraft.

“Thanks to their low fuel costs, turboprops are experiencing a second coming around the world. This is why investing in the newest engine type used in ATRs will allow us to expand our client base in the future,” Karhumäki added.

Finnish Commuter Airlines Oy (Finncomm) is a Finnish airline founded in 1993. It has been cooperating with Finnair since 1998. Finncomm has 14 domestic and three international routes. The domestic routes serve as feeders for Finnair traffic.

Today Finncomm Airlines operates two Embraer 145 jets and three ATR 42-500 turboprops. Five Saab 340 planes are operated by Golden Air. There will be four ATR 42s with 68 seats in the fleet by the end of 2006 and the deliveries of ATR 72-500s with 68 seats start in the beginning of 2007. In 2009 Finncomm Airlines' ATR fleet will consist of four 42-500s and seven 72-500s.

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