DUBAI—Etihad Airways Engineering is expanding its capabilities and footprint in its quest to become a one-stop MRO solution.
At MRO Middle East, the company announced it is building three widebody aircraft bays that it expects to finish at the end of 2023. They will be dedicated to the Boeing 777-300ER passenger-to-freighter conversions that Etihad is doing with Israel Aerospace Industries. Specifically, two bays will be dedicated to the conversion lines, and one will house “organic growth as well as the maintenance that is expected to come out of the conversion platform,” says Maria Sebastian, Etihad Engineering’s head of transformation, business development and strategy.
The semi-permanent hangars from Aircraft Support Industries are designed to last about 20 years and are cost effective, Sebastian says. She adds that several other companies in the region are constructing similar semi-permanent structures, as well.
Etihad Airways Engineering also announced that it will become the new home for Collins Aerospace’s Nacelle MRO business, which is located in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). The move shifts the work from a stand-alone shop in a free zone to being embedded in a customer’s facility full of aircraft.
Collins will move the shop and its program to Abu Dhabi; the shop’s staff is expected to work at the relocated shop, as well. Sebastian expects the nacelle shop will be transferred to Abu Dhabi by the end of 2023.
Additionally, Etihad is expanding its component workshops, as evidenced by a new agreement with Acme. Etihad will become an authorized service center for Acme batteries in the region.
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