Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance has won a 13-year contract to support GE Aerospace GE90 engines powering Saudia's Boeing 777 fleet. The agreement spans MRO activities at AFI KLM E&M facilities at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, on-wing and field support plus digital analytics for 86 engines, the maintenance group says. It notes that the deal follows a memorandum of understanding signed during a Saudi-French Investment Forum in Riyadh in December 2024, aimed at strengthening co-operation between Saudia and Air France-KLM in passenger transport and aircraft maintenance. Under that accord, the two sides agreed that AFI KLM E&M would receive at least half of Saudia's GE90 engine maintenance work, and there were plans to assemble engine modules locally, and to explore the possibility of establishing a joint venture for GEnx engine maintenance, Air France-KLM said at the time. GEnx engines are optionally available on 787s. Cirium fleets data that Saudia has 43 active 777s, comprising 37 777-300ERs, four 777 Freighters and two 777-200ERs. Another 12 777-200ERs are listed in storage. The entire fleet is GE90-powered. Saudia has 13 787-9s and eight 787-10s in its fleet and another 39 Dreamliners on order, all fitted with GEnx engines. The carrier's fleet additionally includes Airbus A320-family single-aisles, A330s, 747Fs and business jets, and totals 186 aircraft. Group director general Ibrahim Al-Omar describes the new agreement with Air France-KLM as a "significant step in strengthening the technical backbone of our long-haul operations". He adds: "It also complements our broader strategy to localise MRO capabilities and build long-term value for the kingdom." Air France-KLM chief Ben Smith says the accord "reflects a profound level of trust and confidence between our parties and lays the foundation for strengthened co-operation in the fields of passenger transport and aircraft maintenance".

Aer Lingus has signed memorandum of understanding with Sabena Technics about base maintenance and cabin refurbishment for the Irish carrier's Airbus A330 fleet. The long-haul jets will undergo heavy checks and "extensive future-proofing" at the French MRO provider's facility in Bordeaux over three winter maintenance seasons, from 2026 to 2029, Sabena Technics says. It notes that the two companies have been collaborating for nearly 20 years under a "partnership that extends from the hangar floor to senior management". "This new phase will allow us to expand our resources and facility slot capabilities to meet the demands of this complex project, which will ensure that Aer Lingus's A330s fleet continues to offer industry-leading comfort and quality into the future," states chief executive Herve Grandjean. Aer Lingus's fleet includes 12 A330-300s and three A330-200s, all powered by GE Aerospace CF6-80E1 engines, Cirium fleets data shows. The A330-300s were built in the 2006-2020 period and have an average age of 12 years, while the -200s were built between 2001 and 2007. Each of the A330-300s is configured with 30 business class seats – 10 aircraft feature Thompson Aero Vantage business seats while two have Recaro furniture – and 283-287 Recaro economy seats. The A330-200s are each equipped with 23 Vantage business and 243-258 economy seats. Cirium's ground-events data lists 11 base maintenance and three heavy checks for Aer Lingus's A330 fleet at Sabena Technics' Bordeaux site since June 2023, and one heavy check in Dublin earlier this year. Aer Lingus chief technical officer Javier Jimenez says the MRO provider's "consistent delivery, deep technical expertise, and shared commitment to operational excellence have played a pivotal role in supporting the safety, reliability, and performance of the Aer Lingus fleet". Parent IAG in May ordered 21 A330-900s for operation at Aer Lingus, Iberia or Level. In a parallel order with Boeing, the airline group signed for 32 787-10s for use by British Airways.

EgyptAir's follow-on order of six Airbus A350s, disclosed at the Paris air show, had previously been counted in the airframer's published data, attributed to an unidentified customer. Airbus confirms that in January, EgyptAir converted A350-900 options, adding six firm orders to the 10 it had placed at the Dubai air show in 2023. Data shows that the North African carrier's mixed fleet of widebodies includes eight leased Boeing 787-9s and five leased 777-300ERs, in addition to five A330-200s – four owned, one leased – and four owned A330-300s. It also has converted passenger-to-freighter A330-200s.