Tummasak Chutiwong, THAI's managing director for technical services, said that in addition to THAI and ANA's close relations through Star Alliance, this agreement signified the first step towards enhancing the two carriers' relationship and friendship, particularly in the area of technical services.

He said THAI was proud to provide technical services to ANA as a customer airline, and the two carriers would share experiences.

Michihide Kono, ANA's vice president for engineering and maintenance, said ANA was pleased to have chosen THAI's technical services unit to conduct aircraft maintenance on its Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

ANA was also pleased to have received a rapid response from THAI in proposing a package deal to conduct the maintenance service.

The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the carriers in November.

The programme will provide maintenance for 11 aircraft from next month through August 2008.

Five aircraft will undergo maintenance this year, with maintenance on the remaining six aircraft to be completed next year.

Maintenance on each aircraft will take about 18,000 man-hours, or a total of 30 days' ground time.