Air France, Delta Tech Team
to Cover Both ACJ and BBJ

Full support for both Boeing BBJs and Airbus A319 Corporate Jets is offered through a partnership between Air France Industries and Delta Technical Operations, exhibiting here for the first time together in Europe at Booth 7013.

Air France Industries (AFI) is an Airbus-approved cabin outfitter for the ACJ and also provides European and Middle East coverage for Airbus' business partner United Services (a sister company of United Airlines) as part of the single-point-of- contact "one call handles all" customer support program for the business jet.

Delta's Technical Operations division was selected last year by Boeing to provide inventory support, component maintenance and engineering services for the 29 BBJs that will be part of the NetJets fleet. Delta will provide contracted maintenance support for each aircraft for 10 years after delivery to NetJets.

The companies' cooperation extends well beyond business jets through the Airbus and Boeing range to A340s and 777s. AFI specializes in Airbus and Boeing 747 aircraft, GE and CFM engines and engine and airframe components, while Delta conc- entrates on all other Boeings and Pratt & Whitney engines "so we have no overlap in our capabilities," AFI marketing director Michel Pébarthe told Show News.

"Between us we can offer one stop service on every product, almost worldwide."

Meanwhile, AFI is talking up its completion capabilities for the Airbus Corporate Jet (it recently completed two for the French government) and other large head of state and government aircraft, such as the two Airbus A310s it is currently working on for Spain.

"We may not be at the same volume level as Lufthansa Technik when it comes to VVIP completions, but we plan to be a major player in this market in the future," Pébarthe said.