XL Airways France, a specialist long-haul leisure carrier, and CHEP Aerospace Solutions, the leading independent provider of outsourced Unit Load Device (ULD) and galley cart repair, maintenance and management services, have signed a ULD supply and management agreement, which includes a transition to fuel-saving composite containers.
CHEP Aerospace Solutions will manage, maintain and repair the ULD fleet of XL Airways France during the three-year term of the agreement and will also supply new lightweight composite containers for the airline’s fleet of widebody aircraft.
XL Airways France VP Operations, Pierre Madrange, said: “CHEP Aerospace Solutions purchased our stock of aluminium ULDs and will transition our container fleet to lightweight units in the first few months of our partnership. In addition to the financial benefits of this initial transaction we will also save money on operational costs and reduce our carbon emissions during the entire term of our partnership. The flexibility of being able to adjust ULD stock levels on a monthly basis to meet operational requirements, as well as the fuel and CO2 savings that will be generated by the new lightweight containers, were key factors in our decision to outsource to CHEP.”
CHEP Aerospace Solutions’ President, Dr Ludwig Bertsch, said: “We are delighted that XL Airways France has joined our growing list of customer airlines benefiting from our complete ULD management solutions. We have several leisure carriers among our more than 30 pooling customers and the synergies offered by this ULD pool, complemented by our 50 repair stations globally, will certainly drive significant operational and environmental benefits for XL Airways France. We are pleased with this newly-formed partnership and look forward to our successful cooperation.”
