Parata Air expands maintenance infrastructure as fleet grows to 5 aircraft

Having grown its fleet to five aircraft, Parata Air is now moving to strengthen its overseas maintenance and parts support network. As the airline prepares to expand long-haul routes with the A330, it aims to ensure rapid parts supply when technical issues arise abroad.

Parata Air announced Wednesday that it is expanding its cooperation with TP Aerospace, a global specialist in aircraft wheels and brakes, to reinforce maintenance and parts support for its A320 and A330 fleets.

The two companies have been working together since last year. Through its "Land for Less" (LFL) program, TP Aerospace provides wheel and brake exchange services and parts inventory support for the A320 wheels and brakes and A330 brakes operated by Parata Air.

A 24-hour support system is also in place to handle aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situations, where an aircraft cannot operate due to a malfunction or other issue. Because minimizing downtime during unexpected parts replacements is critical for airlines, the importance of an overseas maintenance and parts network grows as the fleet and route network expand.

Parata Air brought in its first aircraft in July last year and has grown its fleet to five in roughly a year. It currently operates three widebody A330s and two narrowbody A320s. TP Aerospace has been expanding its parts supply and exchange support accordingly.

Another feature of the arrangement is the management of wheels and brakes for both the A320 and A330 under a single global program. Parata Air expects this to reduce the burden of maintaining separate supply chains for each aircraft type while improving the reliability of parts procurement.

The partnership also gives Parata Air access to an overseas support network ahead of long-haul route expansion. TP Aerospace operates maintenance and parts supply chains across Europe, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. The company also has a maintenance facility in Las Vegas, which could serve as a local support base if Parata Air launches regular service to the US West Coast.

Parata Air plans to expand its maintenance, parts and operational support infrastructure in stages as it takes delivery of additional aircraft.

"Building a maintenance and parts support system capable of sustaining a growing fleet is just as important as expanding the fleet itself," a Parata Air official said. "Through cooperation with global specialists, we will proactively respond to fleet and route expansion and continue to strengthen the foundation for safe and stable operations above all else."

Meanwhile, Parata Air took delivery of its fifth aircraft, an A330-200, earlier this month, bolstering its widebody fleet for medium- and long-haul route expansion.