Press Release
AFI KLM E&M and Air Canada Sign Major 10-Year Contract for Component Support of Boeing 787 Aircraft
Paris, Amstelveen, Montreal, – 24th of February 2025 – Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) and Air Canada have signed a landmark 10-year contract for the Component Support of 58 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This significant agreement marks the first major Component Support contract between the two airlines and includes the establishment of a new pool stock positioned in Toronto, Canada, to support Air Canada’s expanding operations. Starting with a fleet of 39 aircraft on May 1st, 2024, Air Canada plans to grow its fleet to 58 Boeing 787 Dreamliners by 2029. The contract also encompasses an option for 12 additional 787 aircraft, further underscoring Air Canada’s commitment to fleet modernization and expansion.
A New Milestone in a Longstanding Partnership
With this Component Support contract, the Canadian airline has deepened a long-standing partnership with AFI KLM E&M of more than 15 years. This collaboration has included programs such as the GE90, CFM56, APS5000, and airframe events, demonstrating a robust history of mutual trust and cooperation.
"This groundbreaking agreement with Air Canada is a testament to our shared vision of innovation and excellence in aviation", stated Mathieu Essenberg, Executive Vice President of KLM Engineering & Maintenance. "We are honored to provide robust component support for Air Canada's expanding 787 fleet. This collaboration leverages the strengths of both airlines and sets a new standard for industry partnerships. We look forward to a decade of mutual growth and success."
"We are excited to embark on this new chapter with Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance, a partnership that signifies our shared, unwavering commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction", said Josh Vanderveen, Vice President of Air Canada Maintenance. "The support for our growing 787 fleet will not only enhance our service reliability but also fortify our position as a leader in the aviation industry. This agreement is a strategic milestone in the ongoing modernization of our fleet so we can keep delivering a world-class travel experience to our passengers."
About Air Canada:
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline and the leading provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market, and the international market to and from Canada. As a founding member of Star Alliance™, Air Canada offers its customers access to the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Originally established as Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) in 1937, the airline was rebranded as Air Canada in 1964 and fully privatized in 1989. Today, Air Canada operates from three primary hubs: Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), and Vancouver (YVR). The airline’s ongoing fleet modernization program, initiated in 2007, focuses on the acquisition of next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner comprising nearly 50% of its wide-body fleet. In 2024, Air Canada transported 47 million passengers to 188 destinations, generating an operating revenue of $22.3 billion. The airline’s corporate headquarters are located in Montreal.
About AFI KLM E&M
Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance is a major multi-product MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) provider. With a workforce of over 12,800, AFI KLM E&M offers comprehensive technical support for airlines, ranging from engineering and line maintenance to engine overhaul, aero structure, and fan thrust reverser support, as well as the management, repair, and supply of aircraft components, structured around a powerful logistics network. AFI KLM E&M supports almost 3,000 aircraft operated by 200 major international and domestic airlines.
