Many U.S. Passenger Jets Serviced Abroad
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2005 — -- With all the U.S. airlines -- even the profitable ones -- looking to cut costs, they are shifting more aircraft maintenance to outside companies that pay mechanics much less.
But some say the cost-cutting move poses a risk to passenger safety.
JetBlue Airways sends some of its fleet to El Salvador for overhauls. The company's planes are also serviced in the United States and Canada, and the airline insists the work -- which it closely supervises -- has been top-rate.
"People should have no concerns whatsoever about outsourcing maintenance," said Dave Ramage, JetBlue's vice president of technical operations. "Again, the industry has done it for many years. Look at the track record of the industry. I think it speaks for itself."
An increasing number of airlines are turning to outside repair shops. In 2003, major carriers outsourced 51 percent of their maintenance expenses, compared with just 37 percent in 1996.
The practice varies widely. JetBlue, America West, Southwest and United outsource all heavy maintenance. US Airways and Northwest farm out a minority of the work, while American Airlines does all its own major maintenance.
As airlines turn to outside contractors, often as a way to save money, the question arises -- is the quality of work and oversight as good as it should be?
"Yes, we need to be concerned about that," said John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board. "And it is the airlines' responsibility to make sure that the person that is working on their airplane is trained in the job they are doing."
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