Finnair and Liebherr Sign Long-Term Airbus A350 Landing Gear MRO Deal

This article is based on an official press release from Liebherr.

In a move that highlights the maturing lifecycle of next-generation wide-body aircraft, Finnair has secured a long-term service agreement with Liebherr-Aerospace. According to an official press release from the manufacturer, the contract covers the MRO of the nose landing gear systems across the Finnish flag carrier’s Airbus A350 fleet. The comprehensive maintenance campaign is slated to begin in 2026 and will extend through 2034.

As the aviation industry faces an impending surge in heavy maintenance requirements for modern composite aircraft, securing reliable MRO slots has become a critical operational priority. Finnair, which was the third airline globally to operate the Airbus A350, is among the first carriers to reach the age and flight-cycle thresholds necessitating these extensive landing gear overhauls.

The agreement ensures that all overhaul activities will be conducted entirely in-house at Liebherr-Aerospace’s specialized facility in Lindenberg, Germany. By partnering directly with the OEM, Finnair aims to guarantee fleet reliability over the next decade.

The Scope of the Finnair-Liebherr Agreement

Securing Long-Term Maintenance Slots

The newly signed agreement between Finnair and Liebherr-Aerospace represents a significant logistical commitment. Based on the company’s announcement, the overhaul campaign will service Finnair’s current fleet of 17 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Because Finnair introduced these aircraft to its fleet around 2015 and 2016, the landing gear systems are now approaching their first major overhaul cycle.

Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH originally developed, manufactured, and certified the nose landing gear system for the Airbus A350. By returning the components to the OEM, Finnair leverages Liebherr’s specialized engineering expertise and dedicated supply chain.

Alex Vlielander, Chief Customer Officer at Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS, emphasized the strategic timing of the Partnerships in the company’s press release:

“The industry is moving now into the next global landing gear overhaul wave, entering a decisive planning phase for anticipating and securing future slots. We are delighted and grateful to Finnair for this agreement, which marks a significant step forward in our partnership and highlights the strong mutual trust between our companies. It further strengthens our role as a key support partner for Finnair’s A350 fleet.”

Industry Trends: The Wide-Body Overhaul Wave

Navigating MRO Bottlenecks

The aviation aftermarket is currently entering a critical and highly competitive phase. As the global fleet of new-generation wide-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787, matures, Airlines are confronting the first major cycle of landing gear overhaul programs. Landing gear overhauls require highly specialized MRO capabilities and significant downtime. Consequently, industry data indicates that securing long-term maintenance slots is becoming increasingly difficult.

To meet this exact surge in demand, Liebherr-Aerospace has been proactively scaling its operations. In March 2026, the company announced a 6,000-square-meter expansion of the customer service and assembly areas at its Lindenberg site. According to the manufacturer, this expansion was explicitly driven by the rapidly growing demand for MRO services dedicated to the Airbus A350 fleet.

Recent Milestones for Liebherr

The Finnair agreement follows a series of significant operational milestones for Liebherr-Aerospace. Just weeks prior to this announcement, in April 2026, the Lindenberg facility inducted its very first Airbus A350 nose landing gear into the overhaul process. This event marked a historic transition for the A350 gear, moving it from a purely production and operational phase into its first lifecycle maintenance phase.

Additionally, in April 2026, Liebherr delivered the first nose landing gear for the new Airbus A350F commercial freighter. This new iteration features a newly developed anti-tail-tipping pressure sensor, further cementing the Lindenberg site as Liebherr’s center of competence for flight controls, landing gear systems, gears, gearboxes, and electronics.

Strategic Implications for Airlines

AirPro News analysis

At AirPro News, we view Finnair’s long-term agreement as a highly proactive operational strategy. The composite aircraft that revolutionized long-haul travel a decade ago are no longer brand new. They are now entering their heavy maintenance lifecycles, which is creating a boom for specialized MRO providers like Liebherr.

By locking in the OEM for overhauls through 2034, Finnair is effectively insulating itself from an impending global shortage of wide-body MRO slots. Airlines that fail to secure these maintenance windows years in advance risk severe supply chain bottlenecks, extended aircraft downtime, and potential disruptions to their long-haul networks. This agreement underscores a broader industry shift where forward-thinking carriers are prioritizing long-term aftermarket stability over short-term cost savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the agreement between Finnair and Liebherr-Aerospace cover?
The agreement covers the long-term maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of the nose landing gear systems for Finnair’s fleet of 17 Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

When will the maintenance campaign take place?
According to the press release, the maintenance campaign is scheduled to begin in 2026 and will run through 2034.

Where will the landing gear overhauls be performed?
All overhaul activities will be performed entirely in-house at Liebherr-Aerospace’s facility in Lindenberg, Germany.

Why is this agreement happening now?
Finnair was an early adopter of the Airbus A350, introducing the aircraft in 2015 and 2016. These aircraft are now reaching the age and flight-cycle thresholds that require comprehensive landing gear overhauls. Securing slots now helps the airline avoid industry-wide MRO bottlenecks.

Sources: Liebherr Press Release