CAL, EVA gear up for MRO expansion
2014-08-20
An expanded aircraft maintenance, repair and operations service is to be established by local carrier China Airlines Co. Ltd. at Taoyuan County in northern Taiwan by 2017.
Operated by a wholly-owned CAL subsidiary, the service involves an investment of NT$1.35 billion (US$45 million). Two new hangars capable of handling four wide body aircraft are to be added to the company’s existing three-jet facilities at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
CAL spokesman Jeffrey Kuo said Aug. 18 that the timing of the new service reflects the changing makeup of the company’s fleet and a push to tap the growing regional MRO market.
“This year, our new Airbus 350 and Boeing 777-300 ER planes will begin arriving,” he said. “As well as taking care of these jets, the service allows CAL to capitalize on Taiwan’s central location and abundance of MRO professionals.
“Taiwan stands a good chance of becoming a major player in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific market.”
Local competitor EVA Airways Corp. is also ramping up for MRO opportunities. In April it set up Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp. with U.S.-based GE Engine Services Inc., providing overhaul, repair and support services for aircraft engines, components and accessories.
According to EVA, the new center is the only one in the Asia-Pacific for the American industrial group’s best-selling GEnx aero engines. Used on Boeing 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, GEnx features a modern design with superior fuel economy to previous generations.
The latest market outlook released by Boeing Co. indicates Asia-Pacific will be the major growth driver of the global aviation sector in the following two decades, accounting for 37 percent delivery demand, followed by North America at 21 percent and Europe at 20 percent.
Aviation consulting firm TEAM SAI predicts the MRO market, currently at US$57.7 billion, to grow 4.2 percent annually to US$86.8 billion by 2024, with Asia-Pacific leading other markets at 5 percent.
Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=220745&ctNode=445)
