en.Wedoany.com Reported - Collins Aerospace and Etihad Airways Engineering announced a joint venture at the Farnborough International Airshow to provide nacelle and thrust reverser maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 widebody fleets in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Under the agreement, Collins Aerospace will relocate its existing UAE nacelle operations to Etihad Engineering's 550,000-square-meter Aviation Excellence Maintenance Center near Zayed International Airport, doubling Collins' nacelle MRO footprint in the Middle East. The joint venture will operate a 3,250-square-meter facility, expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2027, providing nacelle maintenance solutions and asset support services to regional and international airlines.
PJ Titone, Vice President and General Manager of Collins Aerospace's Advanced Structures division, stated that proximity to Etihad Engineering's rapidly expanding heavy maintenance facility will enable Collins to deliver higher levels of service and technical expertise to meet the growing aviation market demand in the Middle East. The joint venture will expand the company's global MRO footprint, support an increasing number of commercial aircraft equipped with Collins nacelles, and help regional airlines reduce costs and turnaround times.
Etihad Engineering, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) Group, provides aircraft maintenance and engineering services covering a wide range of airframes and components. This joint venture will complement and expand its existing maintenance solutions, offering enhanced nacelle MRO services to regional and global airline customers.
Mahmood Al Hameli, CEO of Abu Dhabi Aviation Group, stated that this new capability aligns with the group's long-term commitment to organic growth through enhanced capabilities and local expertise development, broadening service scope while strengthening resilience and customer responsiveness. Daniel Hoffmann, CEO of Etihad Engineering, noted that the company serves a global customer base from Abu Dhabi as a one-stop MRO solutions partner. The joint venture with Collins Aerospace adds high-quality nacelle maintenance and thrust reverser MRO services to its comprehensive existing portfolio.
The joint venture will operate as part of Collins' aerospace structures aftermarket network, supported by a global team. Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, provides aerospace and defense solutions in avionics, aircraft interiors, aerospace structures and engine components, mission systems, and power and control systems. RTX employs over 180,000 people globally, with 2025 sales exceeding $88 billion, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Etihad Engineering is one of the world's leading commercial aircraft MRO service providers, with over 2,000 employees from more than 50 countries, delivering aircraft maintenance and engineering services from its 550,000-square-meter facility in Abu Dhabi.
