Korean airline Air Premia has contracted Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) to provide component maintenance support for its 10-strong 787 fleet.

The long-term agreement covers component repair, logistics and spare parts access through an on-site stock based in Seoul and several worldwide pools.

Air Premia becomes the 20th customer to join the AFI KLM E&M 787 operator community.

AFI KLM E&M VP sales Asia-Pacific Dominik Wiener-Silva said: “Air Premia is joining our vast community of customers who’ve entrusted AFI KLM E&M with components support for their Boeing 787 fleets. Our group designs adaptive solutions for this high-tech aircraft, based on targeted innovations and in a continuous improvement spirit. Our main goal is to ensure that our maintenance services remain at the forefront of efficiency and reliability.”

KLM Engineering & Maintenance EVP Ton Dortmans commented: “Wherever new-generation aircraft go, new-generation services must follow: thanks to our [predictive maintenance] Prognos system, we’re able to draw upon the vast wealth of data provided by these highly communicative aircraft in order to make predictive maintenance a reality.”

Air Premia director E&M T.J. Choi said: “We highly expect AFI KLM E&M’s close support based on its expertise in the operational issues faced by airlines. Being backed up by an airline MRO which also operates the 787 fleet, we strongly believe, they would offer the best guarantee of a smooth operation and sharing of the technical knowledge as well.”