Page 28 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

COVER STORY
COVER STORY

An Industry in Evolution

Fleet growth is not the only reason why Asia Pacific and the Middle East are
seeing a lot of MRO activity
By Arun Sivasankaran

THE CONTINUING EMERGENCE OF the region is expected to nearly triple in less
ASIA Pacific and the Middle East as the than 30 years - will make up for that.
hubs of MRO activity and the impact of Not surprisingly, the MRO industry is
technological advances are among the buzzing the most in Asia Pacific and the
major stories in an industry that is expected Middle East. According to a 2016 Frost
to continue the modest growth that it & Sullivan analysis, Asia Pacific is set to
has seen over the last few years. Much of become the second largest region for
the industry’s growth will be driven by a MRO services by 2024, with Western
steady increase in fleet growth globally. Europe pushing North America out of the
The contribution from the mature North top spot and into the third position. “Over
American and Western European markets the last two years, we have seen Asian
will be negligible, but the burgeoning Middle MROs starting to expand their operations
East commercial aviation market and the internationally,” said Dirk de Waart, Senior
massive growth that is forecast in the Asia Managing Director at FTI Consulting, a firm
Pacific - the number of operating aircraft in that has OEMs, independent MROs and
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