Moscow Domodedovo Airport Takes Lead in Provision of Tech Support for Western-Made Aircrafts

MOSCOW, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Moscow International Airport Domodedovo, Russia's largest and fastest growing air transportation hub, is en route to become the biggest technical support center in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

The Domodedovo on-ground state-of-the-art tech support facility, run by EAST LINE TECHNIQUE, member of EAST LINE Group, which manages the airport, now employs more than 300 technicians, among those -- some 60 engineers, certified to service foreign-made aircraft, which includes C-check maintenance.

EAST LINE TECHNIQUE is the sole provider of aircraft maintenance in the former USSR not affiliated with a single airline. "This gives us a strategic advantage permitting to cater to all airlines coming to and from Domodedovo without any preferences," says Daria Korshunova, Moscow International Airport Domodedovo Director of Public Relations. "Transaero, KrasAir, VIM-Avia, KD avia, ORENAIR, UTair, GazpromAvia and Air Berlin were among the first carriers to sign-up for maintenance at Domodedovo and we believe this list will grow dramatically." Domodedovo now has 76 partner airlines, including 31 Russian, 30 foreign and 15 air carriers from CIS countries, which fly to more than 220 destinations in Russia and worldwide.

The company is certified to provide maintenance to almost complete Boeing commercial aircraft lineup and Airbus A319/320/321. It plans to start provision of C-check for Boeings-737 later this year, along with opening interior and metal sheet shops on the premises.

The most recent addition to the roster of on-ground tech support was the launch of wheel and brake service for western-made aircrafts in December 2007. The facility at the Domodedovo Airport is the first independent provider of wheel and brake repair and maintenance service (RMS) in Russian Federation and CIS.

"Tire and wheel integrity is a very important component of air travel safety and comfort," says Daria Korshunova. "Addition of this facility was yet another contribution to the overall highest standards of service we aim to offer carriers and passengers at Domodedovo."

The facility was certified by the European Airworthiness Authorities in November 2007. It is authorized to service Boeing-747 and Boeing-757 type aircrafts, in 2008 the shop will be certified to service Boeing-737, Boeing-767, as well as Airbus A310 and Airbus A319/320/321 type aircrafts. It will be ready to do capital repairs of wheels and brakes later on in 2008.

The launch of the foreign-made aircraft wheel and brakes service the shop was yet another phase in the development of heavy technical maintenance forms.

EAST LINE TECHNIQUE is a member of the EAST LINE Group. It specializes in operative servicing of foreign-made aircrafts. Founded in 2002, EAST LINE TECHNIQUE is the only independent foreign-made aircraft technical service centre in Russia certified under the European rules (JAR - 145 / PART - 145, certificate No.F - 058/E).

EAST LINE Group includes companies engaged in provision of comprehensive ground support and airport management services. The majority of EAST LINE Group companies are based in Moscow International Airport Domodedovo which presently is the Russian leader in passenger flow and second in terms of cargo traffic. EAST LINE Group manages Domodedovo in accordance with 75-year lease agreement.

Moscow International Airport Domodedovo (DME) is the Russian and Eastern European leader in terms of passenger traffic according to the rating of Airports Council International (ACI Europe) results in 2007. The airport, which is also the largest in Eastern Europe, handled close to 19 million passengers in 2007 and is expecting a growth rate of 18% to bring passenger number to 22 million in 2008. It is undergoing major expansion; by 2012 the new T2 terminal, which will be the extension to Terminal 1, will be completed. Thus the terminal's capacity will be increased by 6 million passengers per year. Domodedovo serves more than 220 domestic and international destinations. Earlier in April Malev and Lufthansa respectively launched their services from Domodedovo. American Airlines announced that it will start its operations from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Domodedovo in June 2008.

http://www.domodedovo.ru