Nayak Aircraft Services will provide Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling with line maintenance services in Barcelona from September following the creation of a new joint venture between the companies.

The European line maintenance provider’s Nayak Spain business will be a partner in the Part 145 business, which will operate as Yellow Technic. Work will comprise overseeing line maintenance and scheduled overnight maintenance on the airline’s Airbus A320 family aircraft fleet at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The MRO says it was selected by Vueling after winning a competition process against other companies. Nayak has previous experience working with Vueling at other European bases in Italy, France and the Netherlands, which are among 47 locations it operates in total on the continent.

In forming the Yellow Technic business, Nayak says around 200 staff will be employed and the new operation will further add to expanded activities at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport by Vueling’s IAG Group parent company. Earlier this month, its Iberia Maintenance sister company announced plans to further grow base maintenance at the site.

“Involving the client as part-owner shows the extent of our commitment to deliver on our contractual promises and goals,” says Sergio Scalera, Nayak LM Spain managing director and project leader for the Vueling bid.

Scalera describes the partnership model between maintenance provider and airline customer as “a small revolution in the MRO business.” 

“Through its share in Yellow Technic, Vueling will be able to monitor performance and costs on a continuing basis, with full visibility,” he says. “In the very competitive post-COVID business environment, this will shape the business relationship into true teamwork, allowing Vueling management and crews to see Yellow Technic staff as colleagues rather than mere suppliers.”