Increased Middle East capability primed to meet future demands of widebody platforms
LONDON, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the Farnborough International Airshow, Collins Aerospace, a business unit of RTX (NYSE: RTX), and Etihad Airways Engineering LLC (Etihad Engineering) have announced a new joint venture aimed at providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This joint venture will focus on nacelle and thrust reverser maintenance solutions, as well as asset support services for the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 widebody fleets serving regional and international carriers.
As part of this agreement, Collins will transfer its existing UAE nacelle operations to Etihad Engineering’s impressive 550,000-square-meter aviation maintenance centre of excellence, located near Zayed International Airport. This relocation will effectively double Collins’ MRO footprint in the Middle East. The new 3,250-square-meter facility is projected to become operational in the first quarter of 2027.
JP Titone, Vice President and General Manager of Aerostructures for Collins Aerospace, remarked, “By co-locating with Etihad Engineering’s rapidly expanding heavy maintenance facility, Collins can deliver enhanced service levels and technical expertise to meet the demand of the Middle East region’s fast-growing aviation market. This joint venture not only expands our global MRO footprint but also supports the increasing number of commercial aircraft equipped with Collins nacelles, helping carriers in the region reduce costs and improve turnaround times.”
Etihad Engineering, part of the Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) group of companies, is recognized as one of the leading aircraft MRO service providers worldwide. The collaboration aims to complement and enhance Etihad Engineering’s current aircraft maintenance solutions, ultimately providing airline customers from the region and around the globe with superior nacelle MRO services.
Mahmood Al Hameli, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), stated, “This new capability aligns with our Group’s long-term commitment to organic growth through capability enhancement and development of local expertise. It not only broadens our service offerings but also enhances resilience and improves responsiveness to our customers.”
Daniel Hoffmann, CEO of Etihad Engineering, added, “We offer our global customer base a comprehensive array of industry-leading aircraft maintenance and engineering services in Abu Dhabi as a one-stop MRO solutions partner. The establishment of this joint venture with Collins Aerospace strengthens our world-class value proposition by adding high-quality nacelle maintenance and thrust reverser MRO services to our extensive existing portfolio for customers worldwide.”
The joint venture will function as a part of Collins’ aerostructures aftermarket network, supported by a global team.
Source: RTX (Raytheon) (2026-07-21 15:30:00)
