Boeing today announced that  Norwegian Air Shuttle, the third largest low-cost airline in Europe , has become  the largest customer for the Boeing landing gear exchange program with a new  service contract covering an additional 15 Next-Generation 737s.

Landing gear must be overhauled and recertified every 10 years, or after  18,000 cycles. Participants in the landing gear exchange program receive fully  overhauled and certified landing gear shipsets during scheduled gear maintenance  cycles, giving customers an alternative to the large capital investment of new  landing gear. The new contract gives Norwegian Air Shuttle a service schedule  that runs until 2027.

“The landing gear exchange program allows our airline customers to focus on  what they do best, serving their airline passengers,” said Dale Wilkinson, vice  president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Material Services organization.  “Providing engineering and inventory support for such a high-cost asset is one  way we give our customers the Boeing Edge.”

Norwegian has undergone three landing gear exchanges with Boeing to date.  This next exchange is scheduled for October 2013.

“After undergoing our first three landing gear exchanges, we are very pleased  with the Boeing landing gear exchange program,” said  Asgeir Nyseth, COO of  Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA. “Boeing has played a major part in our strategy to  develop a cost efficient and environmentally friendly operation with high  customer satisfaction. Working with Boeing to coordinate our landing gear  maintenance means our fleet spends more time with our customers, and less time  on the ground.”

Boeing’s Material Services organization currently offers the service and  support of the landing gear exchange program to 78 customers worldwide.

In January, Boeing and Norwegian announced an order for 100 fuel-efficient  737 MAX airplanes and 22 Next-Generation 737-800s, valued at $11.4 billion at  list prices. This represents the largest-ever Boeing order from a European  airline.

Norwegian also will initiate a low-cost, long-haul operation with Boeing 787  Dreamliners, which will be maintained under a GoldCare agreement signed with  Boeing in March.

Carrying nearly 16 million passengers in 2011, Norwegian is the third-largest  low-cost airline in Europe. Norwegian currently operates more than 300 routes  across Europe into North Africa and the Middle East.

Boeing press release