Hungary-based low-cost airline Wizz Air has extended the contract to outsource base maintenance services to Adria Tehnika for another four years.

The agreement, which has the option of a further one-year extension, will see the Slovenian MRO carry out the first inspection on Wizz Air aircraft in autumn 2022 from its base at Ljubljana Airport, where it performs airframe and component maintenance, line maintenance and on-request support, among other services.

The agreement will see both parties have a more active cooperation, Adria Tehnika says.

Part of the Avia Prime Group, which includes the likes of Polish MRO Linetech and Serbia-based JAT Tehnika, Adria Tehnika recently announced a new five-year contract with EasyJet to take on a larger scope of base maintenance work for the British low-cost carrier. Avia Prime Group estimates that budget airlines contribute to 22% of its overall revenue.

Wizz Air operates a fleet of approximately 146 aircraft. Over the next decade, it expects to nearly triple its fleet to more than 500 aircraft.

In an effort to disperse risk around maintenance, the airline has typically looked to outource services to third-parties like Adria Tehnika. Last month, it renewed ties with FL Technics to provide heavy maintenance services for its Airbus A320 CEO and NEO aircraft fleets from July 2022.

In a statement released last week, Julia Brix, head of technical services at Wizz Air, says optimal technical support is crucial to maintain its aircraft fleet.