Joint Venture will establish AAR as strategic MRO and technology partner to support airline's maintenance capabilities and to expand service across Africa.

South African Airways Technical (SAAT), the maintenance division for the leading airline in Africa, South African Airways (SAA), and AAR, a world leader in airframe maintenance and supply chain solutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture partnership to reduce costs and increase operational efficiencies of the airline's fleet. The joint venture will also focus on growing SAAT's MRO services to third-party customers/airlines across the continent.

Under the agreement, AAR will provide operational analysis and technical assistance for MRO and warehouse facilities and integrate IT solutions including AAR's 1MRO Software Suite. AAR has a global reputation in the aviation sector for improving operational efficiencies and turn times, as well as lowering costs through its customer-centric solutions.

"We chose AAR to support us as we strengthen and grow our world-class facility because of their experience and expertise in this area," said Musa Zwane, CEO of SAAT. "We are excited to develop a joint venture that will allow us to reduce maintenance costs, increase fleet readiness levels for our valued customers, and ultimately expand and serve West and Central Africa."

AAR also will support expansion of SAAT's component repair capabilities, including landing gear, and potentially support a new MRO facility in West and Central Africa to meet growing regional travel in sub-Saharan Africa and increasing international travel to the continent.

The announcement was made Tuesday during a news conference at the 51st International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget by AAR CORP. Chairman and CEO David P. Storch and SAAT CEO Musa Zwane. They were joined by Marcus Jadotte, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Commerce Department, which has helped AAR navigate the business, cultural and political landscape in Africa under the White House's Doing Business in Africa initiative, for which Storch also serves on President's Advisory Council.

"This joint venture is part of our efforts to further expand in developing markets like Africa," said Storch. "We are excited to partner with Africa's premiere MRO to help them streamline operations, reduce costs and expand service across the continent, including countries like Nigeria and Ghana."

"Africa is home to 6 of the top 10 fastest-growing countries in the world, and U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa now top $21 billion a year. We help businesses like AAR tap into those markets," said Jadotte. "We couldn't be more pleased to have AAR and South African Airways Technical team up and go after opportunities in Africa."

In addition to being the largest independent MRO in the United States, AAR's 1MRO Network also includes a component repair shop in Amsterdam and a landing gear overhaul facility in Malaysia. AAR was recently named Best Airframe MRO Provider Worldwide by ATE and M, the third honor in the past four years.

AAR's global network of warehouses servicing customers' supply chain needs are located in Chicago, Singapore, Amsterdam and Hannover, Germany, with a new hub in Brussels now serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including a power-by-the hour rotable support contract for Kenya Airways' 737NG fleet. The Company serves customers in more than 100 countries from sales and service offices around the world including Airinmar, an inventory repair management company in the UK.