International Aero Engines and MTU Maintenance have signed an 11-year PW1100G aftermarket agreement covering a "significant quantity" of shop visits per year, the companies said Thursday. The deal sends “a clear and strong signal” to the industry that both companies still believe in the mid- and long-term success of the PW1100G engine program, said MTU. The PW1100G, a variant of Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan (GTF) family, powers the Airbus A320neo.
“As the industry continues to emerge from the pandemic, we continue to see the long runway of growth for the GTF engine program,” said Tom Pelland, president of IAE. “We want to ensure that we match that growth with a global presence and strong aftermarket capabilities that support GTF customers now and in the future. This is why we, together with MTU, are committing and investing in the aftermarket network and we are excited about continuing to grow our collaboration.”
For its part, MTU Maintenance, the world’s third-largest MRO provider, has committed to investing in the program throughout its global network. MTU also maintains a joint venture with Lufthansa Technik called EME Aero, which has specialized in Geared Turbofan work since the end of last year.
“The mid and long-term prospects of the aviation industry remain solid. We will believe in the recovery of the aviation industry, and as such are investing in its future today,” noted MTU chief program officer Michael Schreyögg.
MTU Maintenance has completed more than 20,000 shop visits in 40 years and its portfolio now encompasses 30 engine models, including the PW1100G. It presently performs more than 1,000 shop visits per year. The company currently does PW1100G shop visits at MTU Maintenance Hannover in Germany and EME Aero in Poland.