Optimum Fleet Utilisation Expands Growth Potential for Commercial Airframe Components Service Providers

Business Wire, April 7, 2008

LONDON -- Efforts to optimise fleet utilisation are creating exciting growth opportunities for commercial airframe components service providers across Europe. The increasing demand for flexible and innovative commercial solutions, in line with realigned airline business models, has widened the scope for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers to offer value-added services as competitive differentiators.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.aerospace.frost.com), European Commercial Airframe Components Aftermarket Analysis, finds that the market earned revenues of $2.41 billion in 2007 and estimates this to reach $2.88 billion in 2012.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the analysis of European commercial airframe components aftermarkets, then send an e-mail to Anna Anlauft, Corporate Communications, at anna.anlauft@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

"Aircraft maintenance is becoming increasingly decentralised," note Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Donald Ivan. "This trend is being driven by low-cost carriers' (LCCs') point-to-point route network as opposed to the hub-and-spoke model traditionally adopted by legacy carriers."

Since maintenance tasks are carried out wherever the aircraft is parked, operator re-positioning time and cost are saved. The growing demand for performance-based, logistics type of component aftermarket support contracts has promoted the establishment of localised warehouse facilities by service providers in support of service fulfilment.

Airline operators incur high expenditure in traditional repositioning pertaining to MRO activities. Currently, MRO activity at the point of aircraft parking is preferred to minimise costs and time.

Airline-affiliated MROs have stepped up their presence to exploit the market opportunities presented by the outsourcing trend, working to leverage their existing infrastructure, expand customer base and convert what was considered a cost centre into a profit centre.

However, challenges persist. Entrants face significant competition from established market leaders in the component repairs and overhaul market.

"Competition has been intensified by original equipment manufacturers' (OEMs') aggressive long-term aftermarket service offerings as packages in combination with OE product sales," states Ivan. "Furthermore, by leveraging strategic partnerships, component OEMs have been able to fulfil an additional element of their aftermarket strategies in extending their product portfolio, to compete more effectively with established participants and better align themselves with end-user requirements."

To succeed in this market, service providers need to offer a comprehensive range of solutions. Technical expertise in providing nose-to-tail solutions will lay the groundwork for a strong brand image and wider customer base.

European Commercial Airframe Components Aftermarket Analysis is part of the Aerospace and Defence Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets: Alternative Fuel Application in Commercial Aviation, European Airport Passenger Screening Markets, Integration of Cabin Entertainment and Advanced Communication through Wireless Technologies and Alternative Fuel Application in Commercial Aviation. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

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European Commercial Airframe Components Aftermarket Analysis

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