With facilities in 15 Chinese cities, including Wuhan, the origin of novel coronavirus, and four U.S. cities, the HAECO Group was exposed to the virus’s impact early and widely. The company has had time to understand its options and develop policies to deal with both demand changes and the new safety environment.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, HAECO has seen a sharp drop in line services demand as a result of passenger airlines’ flight reductions, according to Frank Walschot, CEO of the HAECO Group. “Other business areas, including airframe services, components and engine services, remain less impacted.” Walschot says HAECO has deployed its line services workforce to support these other areas of operations, as well as developing and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
Apart from adjusting to changes in demand, the MRO is concentrating on the safety of its own people and customer staff. In January, HAECO group activated what Walschot calls its business continuity plan. Under the plan, HAECO implemented a series of measures including temperature checks for all employees and customers, increased personal hygiene standards, more stringent operating procedures, protective gear where required, enhanced cleaning of public areas and facilities, declaration by individuals of their travel history and self-quarantining of individuals where appropriate.
“HAECO is making every effort to safeguard the health and safety of our employees and to ensure operational continuity,” Walschot stresses. “The company is closely monitoring the fast-developing situation and is maintaining close communication with employees, customers, and authorities.”
