easyJet, the UK-based low-cost airline, has confirmed its plans to acquire the SR Technics aircraft maintenance facility located at Malta International Airport. This move is pending regulatory approval and aligns with the airline’s strategy to bring more of its maintenance operations in-house, according to a statement provided to ch-aviation.
The facility, featuring six maintenance bays, has been serving easyJet’s fleet for several years, focusing on heavy maintenance tasks. This acquisition, as stated by easyJet, complements its ongoing efforts to centralize and streamline its aircraft maintenance operations, enhancing efficiency and control over its maintenance schedules and quality.
On April 18, easyJet filed an official notice of concentration with the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA). The regulatory body has opened the floor for objections from other parties, setting a seven-day window starting from April 26.
SR Technics has been operating in Malta since 2010, with easyJet as its inaugural customer. In October of the previous year, SR Technics Malta secured a new three-year maintenance contract with easyJet, underlining the facility’s importance to the airline’s operational strategy. Other major airlines such as Ryanair and Lufthansa also utilize maintenance facilities on the island, highlighting Malta’s role as a significant hub for aircraft maintenance within Europe.
In addition to the Malta facility, easyJet has recently invested in expanding its maintenance capabilities at other locations. January 2023 saw the opening of a new four-bay hangar at Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, representing a significant investment of approximately EUR 20 million (USD 21.4 million).
easyJet’s fleet consists of 245 Airbus narrowbodies, including models from the A319 to the A320/1neo series. These aircraft are distributed among easyJet’s various subsidiaries: easyJet UK in London Luton, easyJet Europe in Vienna, and easyJet Switzerland in Geneva. The acquisition of the SR Technics maintenance facility is a strategic step towards optimizing the maintenance of this all-Airbus fleet.
