Ryanair has contracted UK-based MRO provider Caerdav to provide heavy maintenance this winter at its Cardiff facility.

The airline said the agreement would ensure it “has flexibility as to where it places its aircraft for the upcoming winter maintenance season”.

Ryanair uses a mix of internal facilities and external suppliers to conduct its heavy maintenance.

“Our five-year growth plan will grow our fleet to over 600 aircraft and we are pleased to announce this agreement with Caerdav to conduct maintenance at their modern MRO facility in Cardiff this winter,” said Ryanair’s director of operations Neal McMahon.

“This agreement will allow Ryanair to utilise two heavy maintenance slots, with aircraft coming in nose to tail for the upcoming winter season. Caerdav has an excellent reputation for a quality service offering in the industry and we are pleased to be announcing this new deal, which will ensure that Ryanair has flexibility as to where it places its aircraft for the winter maintenance season.”

Caerdav’s head of commercial Richard Pitts-Robinson commented: “We are delighted that Ryanair has felt they can put their trust in Caerdav. As a team we take great pride in offering our customers a world-leading service, and to be able to demonstrate this to an airline the size of Ryanair is very exciting indeed – we’re looking forward to welcoming the first aircraft into St. Athan.”