Bii’s Jake Costin tells MRO Management that delivering on the service level expected during leasing interactions is critical to building relationships.

What is your assessment of the leasing sector, and do the current service levels available meet requirements?

Our approach is focused on supporting operators by providing them with access to flight-critical material. This provides multiple benefits to operators, including:

1. Leasing rather than purchasing, which frees up cash
2. Managing the exchange and repair process, freeing up operator resource and creating efficiencies
3. Repair and logistics expertise, ensuring maximum part availability and cost savings.

With our leased material we now cover more aircraft versus one year ago and are seeing higher usage levels as operations continue to recover and grow post-pandemic.

The struggles the industry faces around labour shortages and supply chain constraints are well documented, but have presented a very real challenge to our ability to deliver the service levels we have committed to.

Thankfully, our experience across logistics and repair management have enabled us to navigate this difficult backdrop.

We expect demand to grow alongside the growing active fleet, and so we are continually working to ensure we anticipate and mitigate any headwinds.

What organisations are currently in lease agreements with Bii, and what do these agreements entail?

We currently support a European charter operator with base kits at two sites in Europe. These kits cover a broad selection of the most used material, providing them the peace of mind that they can minimise aircraft on the ground (AOG) scenarios and maximise fleet operations.

Beyond the benefit of having immediate material access and Bii’s repair management expertise, we are continually looking to deliver a service well above the framework set out within any agreement.

What level of interaction is there during a lease agreement, and how is this relationship nurtured?

When managing inventory and repairs, the level of engagement is generally high, especially during the peak periods of operation.

Delivering on the service level expected is critical to building the relationship. It is such a dynamic industry, however, and so we are always talking with our clients, monitoring their requirements and changing utilisations to ensure that we can provide for their adapting needs.

Furthermore, we monitor the ever-changing airworthiness landscape and assist to ensure their operation remains compliant with upcoming ADs/SBs in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

In what ways do you think Bii stands out from competitors in the leasing segment?

Outside of our materials leasing activity, we are investing in our lessor support business. We are working very closely with lessors on their aircraft maintenance checks, including providing on-site representatives to source parts and repair management.

This has been very well received by our current lessors as it drives cost efficiencies and supports overall TATs – both of critical importance to lessors, helping them minimise aircraft downtime and maintenance costs.

We have found that providing on-site representation significantly improves the client experience – maintenance checks always throw up their unique challenges, so having people on the ground who can react in real time removes any delays in decision making and keeps processes efficient.

We very much see this as a strong area of growth given the growing number of lessors and MRO requirements over the course of this decade.

This advertorial feature was first published in MRO Management – October 2023. To read the magazine in full, click here.