Brazil-based major aerospace group Embraer and South African regional and domestic airline Airlink have signed a spare parts inventory support agreement. This makes Airlink the first African carrier to adopt the customised Embraer Collaborative Inventory Planning (ECIP) management system. Airlink operates an all-Embraer fleet of 68 jet airliners.

The ECIP will optimise the airline’s spares inventory levels and reduce its operational costs. Airlink operates both the manufacturer’s ERJ regional jets and E-Jet family smaller single-aisle airliners, and has operated Embraer types since 2001 (the airline was founded in 1992).

“The longstanding relationship between Embraer and Airlink has matured over time through mutual understanding and close collaboration,” highlighted Airlink CEO and MD Rodger Foster. “Today Airlink is proudly the largest operator of Embraer Regional Jet airliners on the continent, and we have clear objectives of expanding and densifying our footprint, which will require additional capacity and more aircraft. Impeccable product support is an imperative to continuously deliver safe and reliable service excellence, which is an Airlink mantra. We are ‘joined at the hip’ with Embraer, and this ECIP speaks volumes to mutual commitment to optimising the operational and economic performance of our fleet.”

Under the ECIP system, most of the inventory investment is handled by Embraer, significantly cutting the cost to the airline. The pricing for each part is fixed annually, permitting airlines to calculate and balance their costs more precisely, with performance levels guaranteed by Embraer Services & Support. The system is driven by data, with weekly ordering recommendations. These recommendations are based on the airline’s usage of parts and on stock level data, created by a combination of advanced software and Embraer’s collaboratively shared planning experience. And ECIP-participant airlines can also access the airframer’s materials management knowledge and its best-in-class global logistics network.

“Embraer has a long-term relationship with Airlink, which is one of our main customers worldwide,” affirmed Embraer Services & Support president and CEO Carlos Naufel. “This deal shows the airline’s trust in our support. We will work even harder to help Airlink gain efficiency and reduce inventory costs in all operations through ECIP, a programme that offers the best-in-class performance customised to each inventory, while providing access to Embraer’s global logistics network.”