ABOVE: Expansion of one of the three existing maintenance bays will commence next year.
British Airways is to make a multi-million pound investment into its engineering and maintenance facility at Cardiff airport, enabling it to service more aircraft through the expansion of one of three existing maintenance bays.
With the hub currently only able to serve 777 and 787 types, the investment will enable the facility to perform ‘more complex and detailed maintenance work’, including on the larger A350 aircraft. When completed in 2025, British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) will benefit from two fully-flexible bays, rather than its existing one. British Airway currently has 13 A350-1000s in its fleet.
“The expanded facility provides us with greater flexibility and control over our Heavy Maintenance activity on both the Boeing and Airbus long-haul fleets, ensuring more efficient planning and execution,” confirmed BA Chief Technical Officer Andy Best.
Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning at the Welsh Government welcomed the news; stating that “this announcement once again demonstrates the vital role that Cardiff Airport plays in bringing investment into Wales and in growing our Aerospace Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul sector, where we see continued international interest”.
Expansion of the Cardiff maintenance base forms part of the airline’s modernisation plan, unveiled in March and described by Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle as “a transformation programme that will see us invest £7 billion over the next two years to revolutionise our business”.
IMAGE: BRITISH AIRWAYS
