MRO Industry Rolling Daily Updates (January 2025)

January 17, 2025

HaveUs Aerotech Gets ULD, Pallet MRO Certification

HaveUs Aerotech has become the first MRO provider in India to receive certification from the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation to perform maintenance on unit load devices (ULD) and pallets.

AirBaltic Opens New Riga Maintenance Hangars

AirBaltic has opened two new aircraft hangars at its home base at Riga International Airport to support the airline’s continued fleet expansion. The new hangars—airBaltic’s third and fourth at the airport—cover a total of 3,800 m² (approximately 41,000 ft.²) and will have capacity to accommodate one Airbus A220-300.

January 16, 2025

Austrian's First 777 With AeroShark Flies

Austrian Airlines flew its first Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with AeroShark, a surface film applied to aircraft that mimics sharkskin to optimize airflow and reduce fuel furn. The aircraft, which flew from Bangkok to Vienna, is the first of six Austrian 777 that will be equipped with AeroShark, a joint Lufthansa Technik and BASF technology. Four of the six aircraft should be completed in March.

GA Telesis Signs OEM Component Support Deal

GA Telesis has signed a long-term agreement with what it says is “the world’s largest aerospace OEM” under which it will provide component support to airlines and operators through its MRO Services division through 2030.

January 15, 2025

DASI Appoints New President

Mike Heaton has been appointed president of DASI, succeeding Rhod Gibson, who will transition to the role of co-CEO alongside John Dziuba. Heaton was previously managing director of the Americas at Satair and has more than 30 years of experience in the aerospace aftermarket materials services sector.

American Airlines Establishes Miami MRO School Partnership

American Airlines has announced a new partnership with George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Under the partnership, students will have engagement opportunities with American’s Technical Operations team at its Miami hub and on campus, and students with top class placements will receive guaranteed interviews for open positions upon graduation and receipt of their FAA airframe and powerplant certificate.

January 14, 2025

Air China Cargo Expands AFI KLM E&M GE90 Contract

Air China Cargo has signed an extension of its existing power-by-the-hour contract with AFI KLM E&M. The original agreement, signed in 2015 to cover General Electric GE90 engines, now extends scope to incorporate additional Boeing 777Fs outfitted with GE90-110B engines.

AerFin Opens New South Wales Headquarters

AerFin has moved to a new headquarters facility in South Wales that it says will double its engine MRO capacity, enabling it to perform up to 200 quick-turn shop visits annually. AerFin says the 116,000 ft.² facility is also equipped with warehouse automation, advanced diagnostics and eco-friendly processes and features, such as parking spaces with EV chargers.

January 13, 2025

Willis' MRO Unit To Maintain Jet2 Boeing 737s In UK

UK-based low-cost airline Jet2 has signed an agreement for Willis Aviation Services to conduct heavy maintenance on some of its Boeing 737NG aircraft. The MRO business of Willis Lease Finance Corporation will undertake the C checks from its facility at Teesside International Airport in the northeast region of England. Leeds-based Jet2 is the UK’s third largest carrier by fleet size and operates 117 aircraft comprised of 737s, Airbus A321-200s, A321neos and a single A330-200.

Riyadh Air Takes First Boeing 787 For Technical, Training Purposes

Riyadh Air is set to take its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft to use as a technical spare and for training purposes as it continues to ramp up to become operational later this year. The Saudi Arabian startup airline has leased the aircraft and will utilize it as part of the ongoing process to obtain its Air Operator Certificate from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation before operating it as Riyadh Air’s technical spare. This aircraft is separate from the original 787-9 order the airline has in place comprised of 72 aircraft.

January 10, 2025

Air Worthy Debuts New CAMO Software

Challenge Air Cargo has rolled out Italian continuing airworthiness management organization (CAMO) Air Worthy’s new software product, AWAS (Air Worthy Aircraft Software). Air Worthy built AWAS in partnership with a software specialist in Milan, and the cloud-based product can be customized to specific operational needs, enabling customers to view an aircraft’s live documentation and compliance status.

StandardAero Gets Chinese Leap Approval

StandardAero’s engine overhaul center in San Antonio, Texas has received maintenance organization approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for CFM International Leap 1A and 1B engines, enabling it to provide MRO services for the engine types to operators in China.

January 9, 2025

Avianca Opts For Entire LHT Digital Tech Ops Portfolio

Avianca has become the first customer in the Americas to opt for Lufthansa Technik’s Digital Tech Ops Ecosystem, including the adoption of flydocs software for digitizing records management and the Aviatar platform’s Predictive Health Analytics. Avianca already uses Aviatar’s Condition Monitoring and migrated to AMOS cloud software in early 2024.

Veryon Acquires RCMBT

Aviation industry software specialist Veryon has acquired RCMBT, a provider of parts reliability analytics for OEMs, regional airlines and cargo operators. Veryon says the acquisition will enhance its portfolio by integrating advanced parts forecasting and cost analysis tools.

January 8, 2025

T’Way Air Plans Seoul MRO Facility

Korean low-cost carrier T’way Air announced plans to develop an aircraft MRO facility at Seoul Incheon International Airport, with operations planned by early 2028. The airline says the new facility is aimed at reducing dependence on overseas MRO and improving maintenance quality and efficiency.

JAS Aero Reaches Indonesian Embraer Milestone

JAS Aero Engineering Services says it is the first line maintenance MRO in Indonesia to certify Scoot’s Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. The Singapore-based low-cost carrier’s first E190-E2 arrived at Padang Minangkabau International Airport on Jan. 6.

January 7, 2025

Etihad Engineering Completes First 787 12-Year Check

Etihad Engineering has completed its first 12-year check on a Boeing 787. It says the check, which was performed for LOT Polish Airlines, involved more than 300 staff completing around 1,600 routine and non-routine tasks in less than 60 days. The 787 was the first in a series of LOT’s scheduled 12-year checks at Etihad Engineering.

HAECO Extends EVA Air Line Maintenance Deal

HAECO has extended its line maintenance contract with EVA Air until the end of 2026. The renewal covers non-technical services such as cabin cleaning at Hong Kong International Airport.

January 6, 2025

Wizz Air Signs Pratt GTF Support Agreement

Wizz Air has entered a commercial support agreement with Pratt & Whitney related to operational support and compensation covering direct costs associated with Airbus A320neo groundings due to PW1100G-JM geared turbofan (GTF) engine powder metal issues. The agreement lasts until Dec. 31, 2026.

StandardAero Lands U.S.-Bangla Airlines Deal

US-Bangla Airlines, a private airline in Bangladesh, has selected StandardAero to provide MRO services for Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M turboprop engines that power its fleet of ATR 72-600s. StandardAero will provide support from its turboprop engine MRO center of excellence in Summerside, Canada.

January 3, 2024

Air Serbia Selects Embraer Pool Program

Air Serbia has signed a multi-year Pool Program contract with Embraer covering support for a range of repairable components on two E195s joining its fleet.

HAECO Expands Dallas Operations

HAECO has relocated its operations in Dallas to a new 290,000 ft.² facility that the company says incorporates cutting-edge manufacturing and engineering technologies, which it says will enhance its capabilities in the industrialization and repair of next-generation aircraft engines. HAECO expects the expansion to create more than 100 new jobs.