AirExplore has entered into a strategic maintenance partnership with FL Technics Wheels & Brakes, securing long-term support for part of its growing Boeing 737-800 fleet.

The Slovak ACMI operator, which expanded from nine to 16 aircraft in 2024, has opted for a power-by-the-hour (PBH) agreement to drive down costs and ensure reliability. Both companies are part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI provider.

Under the agreement, FL Technics will service AirExplore’s wheels and brakes through its four dedicated European facilities located in Vilnius, Budapest, Hanover, and Bergamo. The geographical spread is designed to offer reduced turnaround times and efficient logistical support for the airline’s pan-European operations.

Martin Stulajter, chief executive of AirExplore, said: “We were looking to increase cost efficiency and reliability in our wheels and brakes maintenance and FL Technics’ solution has proven more suitable for our type of operation than our previous provider. The power-by-the-hour agreement introduces a risk-sharing approach, which should deliver reliable service at a lower cost than before.”

Stulajter emphasised that operational dependability is critical to AirExplore’s business model. The airline, which provides ACMI and cargo services, has its entire passenger fleet leased out for the 2025 summer season. As a result, robust MRO partnerships are essential to maintain fleet availability while managing the demands of rapid expansion.

FL Technics, which has 23 subsidiaries worldwide, is positioning itself as a flexible and responsive MRO provider. Zilvinas Lapinskas, chief executive of FL Technics, said: “AirExplore’s trust in our Wheels and Brakes services validates our strategy of building Europe’s most comprehensive MRO network. Their rapid growth and operational demands perfectly match our capabilities to provide flexible, cost-effective maintenance solutions across multiple strategically located hubs.”

The collaboration also supports both companies’ sustainability goals. By reducing the distance components need to travel for servicing, the proximity of FL Technics’ facilities helps clients reduce both emissions and associated logistics costs.

AirExplore, headquartered in Bratislava, is Slovakia’s largest airline and operates a fleet exclusively composed of Boeing 737-800 aircraft for ACMI and cargo operations.

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