On January 20, Xiamen Airlines signed a 10-year deal with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for the maintenance General Electric GEnx engines powering another six Boeing 787-9s, leading in a new chapter in the partnership between the two SkyTeam members.

The Chinese carrier selected KLM for MRO services on six 787-8s' GEnx engines in April 2016.

The two maintenance contracts have a combined value of EUR260 million. Maintenance will be conducted at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, where technical division KLM Engineering & Maintenance is based.

"This partnership further strengthens KLM's expertise and competence in the area of high-grade engine maintenance, thereby safeguarding related job opportunities in Amsterdam," said KLM President & CEO Pieter Elbers. It also reaffirms that KLM's strategy in China is bearing fruit.

KLM has been operating an Amsterdam-Xiamen service since 2011. Xiamen Airlines also began operating on this route in March 2015, as part of a strategic partnership between KLM, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.