Cebu Pacific Air, has selected Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) to provide component support for its Airbus A320 fleet. The selection of AFI KLM E&M came following a call for tenders by the airline in September 2016 for the carrier's expanding fleet of Airbus passenger jets.

The long term contract covers a fleet of over 40 Airbus A320s, and encompasses full component support and solutions, including repairs and local pool access to maximize aircraft availability, for both its A320ceos and its future A320neos.

Cebu currently has a fleet of 59 aircraft, comprised of four Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320ceo, seven Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500, and four ATR 72-600 aircraft. AFI says the contract is its first with Cebu Pacific and the first component support contract in the Philippines.

Between 2017 and 2021, Cebu expects delivery of 45 new aircraft as part of its fleet renewal programme. Comprised of 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft, one new Airbus A330, and 32 Airbus A321neos, the new aircraft will bring the CEB fleet to 85 by 2021.

The contract, along with other recent deals in the region, reinforces AFI KLM E&M’s position in the South East Asia aircraft maintenance market. In 2017, the company expects to see a sharp rise in the number of A320 support contracts, especially in Asia.