A rendering of CSAT's new aircraft painting hangar in Prague.
Czech Airlines Technics plans to venture into aircraft painting services later this year and will construct a new facility to house the forthcoming activities at its base in Prague.
Construction of the paint shop, located at Václav Havel Airport in the Czech capital, started in April and Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT) expects it to be completed in October this year. It will be located at ‘Hangar S,’ which CSAT constructed in 2018 and has been used for line maintenance activities.
CSAT, a subsidiary of Prague Airport, says the investment, valued at 75 million crowns ($3.3 million), is a response to increased demand for aircraft painting services. Once built, the shop will have future capacity to paint approximately 25 aircraft annually.
“This new service will allow us to become a one stop shop—a place where it will be possible to carry out the required maintenance and provide the aircraft with new paint without the need for a flyover,” says Petr Dobersky, chairman of CSAT’s board of directors. Dobersky says that up to now, the absence of a paint shop in Prague has left the company at a disadvantage in several past tenders for maintenance projects.
As part of the facility's conversion to a paint shop, CSAT says air conditioning and other necessary equipment will be installed in the hangar. Following reconstruction, it will conduct a six-month trial operation in which the relevant authorities will verify the safety of the operation.
Since last year, CSAT’s Prague Airport parent company has been looking at a potential strategic partner for the MRO business. It had initially targeted finalization of a deal by the first half of this year.
Referencing this possibility, Jiri Pos, chairman of the Prague Airport board of directors, says the company hopes the new paint shop and its return to profit post-pandemic will send positive signs to any new potential partner.
Last year, CSAT conducted approximately 76 base maintenance projects on Boeing 737, 737 MAX, Airbus A320 family and A321neo aircraft.
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