Philippine Airlines (PAL), the flag carrier of the Philippines, and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) have announced a support agreement to cover 32 CFM56-5B engines that power the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320ceo aircraft.

The agreement builds on the already successful partnership with the two companies, with AFI KLM E&M most notably providing the maintenance of GE90 engines on PAL’s long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft.

The new agreement means AFI KLM E&M will now undertake a wide range of work scopes on the CFM56-5Bs, both in-shop and on-site.

Specifically, the maintenance programme will cover the performance of 10 shop visits and 22 Quick Turn operations, some of which will be carried out using On-Site configuration at PAL’s engineering facilities in Manila.

PAL will receive a support package to emphasise asset availability and cost optimisation, through tailored work scopes designed specifically for the CFM56-5B.

Additionally, they will have the option to acquire two spare engines and access the advanced Prognos® for Engines predictive maintenance system.

Alvin Limqueco, acting chief finance officer and senior vice president of supply chain management of Philippine Airlines, said: “Having remained by our side during the upheavals of the global health crisis, AFI KLM E&M is now supporting the recovery and renewal of Philippine Airlines, which involves the re-activation of broad-scale maintenance operations.

“We look forward to continued solid cooperation with AFI KLM E&M as we carry out PAL’s mission of connecting the Philippines with the world in a way that boosts tourism and economic growth.”

Pierre Teboul, senior vice president of commercial at AFI KLM E&M, said: “Over the years our respective teams have developed a close-knit relationship built on mutual trust, enabling us to form solid partnerships and to work together to design solutions to enhance PAL’s operational performance.”

PAL is undergoing a period of steady expansion with the restoration of its global network of non-stop flights to destinations in Asia, North America, Oceania and the Middle East, along with a robust domestic network within the Philippines.