Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea has signed a contract for Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) to carry out heavy maintenance on its Airbus A320 family fleet.

The contract starts from January 2023 and will run for five years. The terms of the agreement include two full nose-to-tail maintenance lines for the winter maintenance season, with 120 C checks scheduled to be performed over the length of the contract. Typically, these checks will be conducted every two years.

The work will be carried out by Aerotechnics Industries, the Morocco-based joint venture AFI KLM E&M operates with airline Royal Air Maroc. The JV specializes in narrowbody airframe maintenance services from its facility in Casablanca.

Carlos Muñoz, Volotea's CEO who founded the airline in 2011, says the agreement will provide the carrier with first class maintenance services for its A320 fleet, which numbers 40 aircraft. 

"Furthermore, this agreement represents an essential quality guarantee for Volotea, an airline whose top priority is safety," he adds.

Anne Brachet, AFI KLM E&M's executive vice president adds: "With the proximity and flexibility provided by our global MRO network, our dual airline-MRO expertise and our in-depth A320 product experience, we will ensure that Volotea's fleet is maintained at the highest possible level of operational excellence."