Paris, Amstelveen, Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) and Afriqiyah Airways have signed an agreement covering support for the CF680E1 engines equipping the Libyan flag carrier's two A330-200s.

This exclusive, longterm contract is for "time & materials" engine repairs. Afriqiyah Airways will shortly be taking delivery of three new A330-200s, the first by the end of this year, and the other two in 2014, and these will be automatically included in the scope of the contract.

The two groups have had ties since 2008 following the signing of a component support contract for Afriqiyah's A320 and A330 fleets.

Jalameddin Elarbed, Afriqiyah Airways power plant engineering manager, and Abdunoor Abuhajar, Afriqiyah technical and engineering manager, both said "AFI KLM E&M has extensive operational knowledge of the CF680E1 thanks to its parent's experience as an operator, making it a quality alternative to the services of the OEM. We are delighted that we can benefit from this expertise and step up our cooperation with AFI KLM E&M."

Fabrice Defrance, AFI KLM E&M senior ice president commercial, added: "Our two groups have forged strong ties in recent years, and we are very happy to develop those ties further."