How do ‘power-by-the-hour’ services keep A220s flying

For an aircraft to depart on time, every component must be available exactly when maintenance teams need it. With the pressure on to achieve tight turnaround times, airlines need component management solutions that offer predictability, quality and direct access to the aircraft manufacturer's expertise.

Airbus provides this expertise for almost 60 operators around the world, supporting over 1,800 aircraft under what is known as a Flight Hour Services (FHS) contract. But how does this actually work?

What is the FHS 'Power-by-the-Hour' solution?

Maintenance cannot happen without the provision of materials. Indeed, a maintenance crew can diagnose a component issue in minutes, but if a replacement part takes days to arrive, the aircraft remains grounded - a costly event known as Aircraft On Ground (AOG). This is where Airbus material services come in.

In a nutshell, material services at Airbus encompass the global supply chain, logistics, and inventory solutions required to supply spares, consumables, standard hardware, and major components wherever an aircraft flies. Airbus Flight Hour Services (FHS) represents an integrated, performance-based material management model.

Under an FHS agreement, operators pay a set rate per flight hour. In return, Airbus guarantees component availability, logistics management, repairs, and inventory access. Instead of an airline carrying the heavy financial burden of purchasing and warehousing millions of dollars in spare parts across multiple airports, FHS ensures certified parts are positioned at critical hubs around the globe.

In the past, airlines had to buy, store and manage their own expensive inventories of spare parts to keep their operations running smoothly. Airbus FHS shifts this paradigm through a shared 'power-by-the-hour' model.

While every FHS package is tailored to the specific needs of an airline, the principles remain the same:

• A shared global inventory: Instead of purchasing individual parts, airlines gain access to a worldwide pool of components.
• Strategic logistics: Through local stocking strategies and European stock buffers, parts are positioned close to airline operations for immediate availability.
• OEM-standard repairs (Original Equipment Manufacturer): The service includes extensive repair capabilities to maintain and overhaul components to the highest technical and safety standards.

This approach means operators do not need to tie up capital in static inventory. Instead, they rely on a dedicated inventory allocation that guarantees parts availability when required.

Proving the concept with our customers

As the global A220 fleet continues to grow, component availability remains a priority for airline operations and passenger service.

A new Airbus FHS component support contract was recently signed to provide 360° 'power-by-the-hour' support for the A220 fleet of SWISS, ITA Airways and Lufthansa City Airlines. The decision to select Airbus FHS for the A220 fleet follows a competitive evaluation and builds on well-established operational practices and a long-standing partnership. Through this expanded collaboration, the airlines will benefit from Airbus' engineering expertise to help optimise their fleet availability.

We are honored to be chosen to renew our support for SWISS and extend our long-running partnership to ITA Airways and Lufthansa City Airlines. We would like to thank the entire team for their continued trust in our services, and we look forward to achieving new operational milestones together in the years ahead," said Delphine Gianoglio, Head of Commercial Services Europe."

Expanding support for the A220

This milestone marks a key step in the expansion of Airbus FHS across the A220. FHS now covers more than 400 A220 aircraft operated by 12 airlines worldwide. This represents over 70% of the in-service fleet. By combining local stocking strategies with manufacturer expertise, Airbus FHS works to serve as a reliable partner for airlines navigating an evolving market.