Air Canada has extended its slide and inflatable maintenance contract with AJW Technique, the maintenance hub for the AJW Group’s global component repair and overhaul service.

The long-term extension was awarded to AJW as a result of implementing several successful innovative supply chain management programmes for Air Canada, including asset management and leasing, inventory solutions and fulfilment models.

The new contract has been expanded to include the majority of the aircraft types, for the mainline Air Canada fleet as well as Air Canada Rouge and Sky Regional. These include Airbus, Boeing and Embraer.

The contract further strengthens AJW’s existing integrated supplier partnership with Air Canada, which began in 2013 and has since developed over many years into a strong mutually beneficial and trusted relationship.

The overriding success factor of the contract to date has been the communication between the two, ensuring that units requiring MRO services are added to AJW Technique’s production plan ahead of time, and therefore effectively enabling efficiencies for both parties.

Gavin Simmonds, General Manager of AJW Technique and Chief Operations Officer of AJW Group, said:

“We are extremely pleased to once again be extending our partnership with Air Canada. Over the last 12 months together we have successfully implemented a number of supply chain strategies and we will continue to focus on driving further efficiencies and customer value.”

Richard Steer, VP Maintenance and Engineering, Air Canada, said:

“Over the last four years we have built a strong relationship with AJW and this recommitment announcement is a testament to their proactive approach to problem solving and adding value to our business as a strategic partner. AJW have also successfully demonstrated achievement in going above and beyond the service level agreement between both parties, incorporating cost stabilisation and best practice implementation.”

AJW Technique was established in 2012 and this year celebrates its fifth anniversary. The Montreal-based business is a world class, 160,000 sq. ft. facility which has grown to support over 500 airline customers across 100 countries and employs 200 highly skilled staff, cementing employment in the Quebec area.