China Airlines has disclosed plans to set up a new MRO firm focusing on the maintenance of new generation aircraft, such as the Airbus A350.
The carrier's board today approved the investment of NT$1.35 billion ($44.9 million) to set up the new facility, which will have a hangar capable of accommodating two widebody aircraft. The new firm will be wholly-owned by the Taiwanese flag carrier.
A spokeswoman tells Flightglobal the new hangar will be located at Taiwan's Taoyuan International airport, where China Airlines already has an existing MRO operation. The target is for the new hangar to be operational by 2017, and to focus on maintenance work for types such as the Boeing 777 and A350, both of which are due to enter the airline's fleet.
The aim is for the new MRO company to increase China Airlines' flexibility in its maintenance business, raise the quality of its work, and also to capture more third party maintenance business in the Asia Pacific region, says the carrier.
Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows that China Airlines operates a fleet of 77 aircraft comprising of A330s, A340s, 737s and 747s. It also has 10 777-300ERs, the first of which is due to be delivered next month, and 14 A350s on order.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
