MTU Maintenance has signed its first LEAP-1A engine maintenance contracts with airlines in North Africa, including AIRCAIRO, as operators in the region expand their Airbus A320neo fleets.
The agreement with AIRCAIRO covers 42 LEAP-1A engines installed on 19 Airbus A320neo aircraft. MTU Maintenance said the contracts represent its entry into the LEAP-1A maintenance market in North Africa.
The support will be provided through MTU Maintenance’s network, with MTU Maintenance Hannover in Germany and MTU Maintenance Zhuhai in China forming the joint support solution.
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai will contribute its existing LEAP engine maintenance experience as the network’s specialist for narrowbody aircraft engines, while the Hannover facility will also support the programme.
The agreements follow MTU Maintenance’s expansion of its customer base in North Africa, where airlines are increasingly operating next-generation narrowbody aircraft powered by LEAP-1A engines.
“Establishing an early presence in the market, building strong customer relationships and developing a deep understanding of operators’ requirements have been central to our strategy in North Africa,” stated Martin Friis-Petersen, Senior VP of MRO Programs at MTU Aero Engines. “The agreements are the result of many customer visits and workshops. Trust is not only built when a contract is signed.”
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AIRCAIRO CEO and Chairman Hussein Sherif said, “Our partnership with MTU Maintenance is an important step in supporting the continued growth and modernization of AIRCAIRO’s fleet. The LEAP-1A engine is an integral part of our A320neo operation, and ensuring access to world-class maintenance capabilities is essential to maintaining the reliability and operational performance of our aircraft. We are pleased to work with MTU Maintenance and look forward to developing a strong and long-term relationship that supports AIRCAIRO’s expansion and our commitment to our passengers.”
The contracts add LEAP-1A engines to MTU Maintenance’s maintenance activities in the region and expand the company’s support for next-generation narrowbody engine fleets.
MTU Maintenance provides MRO services for more than 30 engine models, alongside engine leasing, asset management and digital services. The company said the new agreements reflect growing demand for LEAP maintenance support as the A320neo fleet expands across North Africa.
