Ural Airlines paints its A320 in Russia for the first time

S7 Engineering did the paint job on Ural Airlines' A320 in its dedicated Mineralnye Vody facility (Photo by Leonid Faerberg / transport-photo.com)

Ural Airlines, Russia’s fourth largest carrier by passenger traffic in the first four months of 2016, has trusted a Russian MRO provider with painting its Airbus A320s for the first time in its ten-year history of operating the type.

In April, Engineering Holding returned to the Yekaterinburg-based carrier a fully repainted A320 with tail number VQ-BFV, which has been in operation since 2010.

S7 Engineering (part of the Engineering Holding) did the painting work in ten days in its hanger located at Mineralnye Vody airport. After painting, the MRO provider also completed the necessary weighing of the aircraft, as well as the daily and weekly checks.

Ural Airlines previously hired different companies outside Russia for paint jobs, following lessors’ preferences. However, in an effort to optimize its expenses, the carrier decided to try a Russian provider. “It saves aircraft transportation costs and besides, the cost of a labor hour in Russia is lower,” Ural Airlines representative commented.

For S7 Engineering’s staff at Mineralnye Vody, the Ural Airlines’ A320 was the seventh aircraft they painted since the beginning of 2016. The Engineering Holding has accumulated 15 orders for paint jobs until the end of the year. Further co-operation with Ural Airlines is negotiated, the company told Russian Aviation Insider.