Gallery: Europe Expands Aftermarket Engine Capabilities

In late August, AerFin expanded its Engine MRO Lite maintenance capabilities for CFM International CFM56-5B and -7B engines. It now offers capabilities including changes for the low-pressure turbine module, No.4 and No.5 bearings, and expanded coverage of fan, booster and top case activities.

SR Technics inducted its first Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine at its Zurich facility in mid-July after joining Pratt & Whitney’s GTF MRO network in 2022. It is the 17^th active location in Pratt’s GTF MRO network and Europe's seventh GTF MRO facility. The following week, Embraer subsidiary OGMA opened a new dedicated GTF engine shop at its facility in Alverca, Portugal, becoming the 18^th active global GTF MRO location and the eighth in Europe. OGMA expects the shop to generate around half a billion Euros by 2030 once it reaches full capacity.

Lufthansa Technik (LHT) signed a new engine maintenance services contract with LOT Polish Airlines in July covering CFM International CFM56-7B engines on the airline’s Boeing 737NG fleet. LHT is performing engine overhauls in Hamburg and will provide LOT with two lease engines to ensure operational stability. In July, LHT also landed a CFM Leap engine services contract with Chinese carrier Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines, following its Civil Aviation Administration of China approval for Leap 1A services earlier this year.

Cyprus-based MRO provider United Aerospace Maintenance Company (UAMCO) gained European Union Aviation Safety Agency approvals this year to conduct quick-turn maintenance services on CFM International Leap 1A and 1B engines. The company tells Aviation Week Network that it may consider expanding to Leap piece part repairs or adding a test cell in the future.

Safran Aircraft Engine Services Brussels opened a new CFM International Leap engine repair shop near Brussels Airport in June. The facility will initially focus on quick-turn services for Leap 1A and 1B engines and ramp up to include module maintenance by 2027. The company also plans to grow staff in Brussels to around 470 people by 2027.

In June, SR Technics signed a five-year general terms agreement with Japanese carrier Skymark Airlines to maintain its CFM International CFM56-7B engines. It has maintained Skymark’s fleet of Boeing 737-800s for the last six years, and the new agreement will extend the relationship through May 2029.

Helsinki-based GA Telesis Engine Services (GATES) signed a CFM International CFM56-7B MRO contract with Thai low-cost carrier Nok Airlines in May. Under the deal, GATES has been providing performance restoration engine shop visits, which GATES says is a significant milestone in its Southeast Asian market expansion. Meanwhile, GA Telesis and Air Transport Services Group’s Specialized Procedures Aeroengine Hospital joint venture in Ohio received European Union Aviation Safety Agency engine maintenance certification in April.

Dublin-based lessor Engine Lease Finance Corporation (ELFC) obtained a $650 million loan in April to expand and renew its spare engine portfolio. The company is focusing on what it says are the latest technology engines for Airbus A220, A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Rolls-Royce announced plans in March to invest more than $70 million in additional Trent engine assembly, test and shop visit capacity at sites in the UK and Germany to meet growing demand. The investment will focus on its headquarters in Derby, UK and its facility in Dahlewitz, Germany. Rolls-Royce plans to deliver over 40% more new engines annually in Derby starting in 2025 and to increase service capacity for the engine type. In Germany, it will transition to the assembly and testing of Trent XWB-84 engines. 

Icelandair signed an EngineWise agreement with Pratt & Whitney in March for long-term MRO of the GTF engines it selected to power up to 35 of its new Airbus A320neo family aircraft. Pratt is also providing support to facilitate the engines' smooth entry into service.