Norwich firm to check BA aircraft

British Airways has awarded a £1.5m contract to Norwich-based KLM UK Engineering to perform "end of lease" checks on four of the carrier's aircraft.

Four of British Airways' Boeing 737-500 aircraft will go through stringent checks at KLM UK Engineering's centre at Norwich International airport.

Maintenance checks are required to show that aircraft are in an acceptable condition when carriers return them to their owners at the end of their lease.

KLM UK Engineering last night hailed the deal as a sign it was being "recognised as one of the leading aircraft maintenance facilities in Europe".

In a statement, the company said BA had awarded the contract after a tender process that included an audit of its facilities in Norwich - adding: "This contract is seen as a landmark of KLM UK Engineering's growth as a Boeing 737 service centre. British Airways is an airline with exacting standards and associates itself with like-minded organisations. KLM UK Engineering take great pride in this."

Onno Pietersma, managing

director KLM UK Engineering Limited, added: "British Airways is a welcome asset to KLM UK Engineering's growing portfolio of customers and is a landmark in

our Boeing 737 maintenance.

"It will increase our market presence and will give us opportunities to grow our capacity and capabilities.

"We have been investing in Boeing 737 capabilities over the last year both in equipment and personnel and it's good to see those investments are paying off, and that we are being recognised in the market as one of the leading aircraft maintenance facilities in Europe."

KLM UK Engineering has a turnover of £30m, a workforce of about 450 people and is a subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

It counts KLM, Air France, TNT, British Airways, City Jet and BMI Baby among its clients.

Courtesy of EDP

05 September 2008