Page 48 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

FEATURE ENGINE MRO
F ea tu R e ENGINE MRO

Change is in the Air

MRO opportunities and challenges abound in the region
By Atul Chandra

the iMPaCt oF LoW FueL PRiCes on the a 12-year low in January 2016; According to
engine Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul industry body IATA, “2016 is scheduled to be
(MRO) market has resulted in the phase-out a busy year for aircraft manufacturers, with
process of mature aircraft slowing down and approximately 1,800 new aircraft booked
many airline operators have now decided to for delivery (an increase of more than 12
retain their mature assets for much longer. percent from 2015).” The month of June saw
The resultant affect is that MRO providers delivery of 161 new aircraft to airlines (the
are now unsure if this will become a larger highest in a single month since December Airlines in the Asia-Pacific
trend or remain a temporary occurrence. 2014). MRO providers now expect further region have placed orders
Airlines however, continue to place orders consolidation of the aftermarket, the pace for approximately 2,000 GTF
for more fuel efficient aircraft. Jet fuel of which is likely to increase in the years to engines and Pratt & Whitney is
rapidly ramping up its production
accounts for as much as a third of an airlines’ come as customers increasingly seek out and MRO capability for the GTF
expenses and though the price of oil reached “one-stop service solutions” that cover MRO engine family

48 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA