Air Canada announces RFP to replace Aveos work
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
The airline says it wants some portion of maintenance work done in Canada.
MONTREAL—Air Canada has announced its transitional and long-term plans following the closure by Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. of its Canadian-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities.
Transitional Arrangements
On a transitional basis, the airline has identified “qualified and government-approved” maintenance facilities in Canada and the U.S. to handle work that was scheduled to be performed by Aveos.
The transition to new service providers is already underway: three aircraft scheduled for maintenance this week will go to a Quebec-based maintenance provider currently used by other Canadian and international airlines.
In addition, arrangements are being made to complete the maintenance of the three aircraft remaining at Aveos facilities.
The airline will continue to source new transitional providers through “industry-standard RFP processes.”
Long-Term Arrangements
“Given the insolvency and unexpected closure of Aveos, we encourage MRO companies from across Canada and around the world to conduct due diligence and assess which of the former Aveos businesses may be viable in Canada under new ownership,” Alan Butterfield, Air Canada’s vice-president of maintenance and engineering, said in a release.
“Air Canada has a strong preference for working with a global MRO which has an interest and ability to provide component, repair and overhaul services in Canada, with particular emphasis given to Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Toronto,” said Butterfield, who noted that each jurisdiction has a pool of well-trained, qualified and talented skilled workers available for action.
Air Canada says it will favour MROs with globally competitive cost structures that have or will establish a portion of their operation in one or more of the cities that Aveos abandoned.
The company said it expects to work collaboratively with governments and “other stakeholders” towards viable long-term arrangements that are cost competitive.
Air Canada did not identify how large a commitment to Canadian jurisdictions the winning contract must include.
