GOL Turns Over Boeing 737NG Lease Return Check To AFI KLM E&M subsidiary KLM UK Engineering

Paris, Amstelveen, 14 January 2015 – On 19 February 2014, AIR FRANCE KLM and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes signed an exclusive, long-term strategic partnership agreement to strengthen the commercial cooperation between the two groups. The agreement also covered the development of cooperation between the two groups in the field of MRO.

Under the terms of the partnership, the first non-exclusive MRO agreement was signed in September 2014 with GOL, from which one of its Boeing 737NGs was sent to KLM UK Engineering for a lease return check prior to its withdrawal from the fleet.

First work in Norwich UK
The overhaul of GOL’s aircraft, as specified in each work scope of the Agreement, prior to its return to the leasing company is being handled as efficiently as possible by KLM UK Engineering. This is possible due to KLM UK Engineering being able to rely on the strength of its engineering network and its various maintenance centres offering specialized, competitive services in terms of both costs and performance. As a result, KLM UK Engineering, a Group subsidiary that offers expert MRO services for regional and narrow-body aircraft, based in Norwich UK, has delivered the first end of lease maintenance check on the GOL 737NG.

Francis Richard, executive in charge of the AIR FRANCE KLM/GOL partnership implementation in Brazil, said: “This cooperation is a further sign that our two groups are working ever more closely together. It confirms the commercial partnership agreement that was signed last year and extends it to the maintenance sphere, where KLM UK Engineering has demonstrated the excellence of its aircraft maintenance services to its partner”.

GOL’s Supply Chain Director Marcelo Abib added: “Our airline is thrilled to be working with a major global multi-product maintenance player. We are confident in KLM UK Engineering’s ability to provide top-flight MRO services. We look forward to developing this cooperation with new work scopes in the near future.”

Arjan Meijer, Managing Director at KLM UK Engineering comments: “We have been delighted to work with GOL on the first end of lease 737NG aircraft, which was both a complex and challenging project,and look forward to working on future projects with them during 2015 and the years ahead under our strategic partnership”.