AFRICA – Sanad Aerotech, has signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to create a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) center of excellence in Africa.
Sanad is a leading service provider of aircraft engine MRO solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Company.
A statement issued in Accra by the Airline said the agreement between the two parties paves the way for Sanad and Ethiopian Airlines to collaborate and maximise on untapped MRO business opportunities in the region.
“Sanad and Ethiopian Airlines will establish a Centre of Excellence for the repair and overhaul of Auxiliary Power Units (APU) in Addis Ababa and also start with APU’s used on B737 and A320 aircraft,” the airline said.
The statement said the strategic alliance also has future aspirations to expand capabilities to include aircraft components and aircraft engine MRO.
It said the latest agreement between Sanad and Ethiopian Airlines builds on a 2018 MOU which was to collaborate on APU capabilities, among others.
“Sanad continues to push ahead with its strategy of expanding a global presence through strategic alliances with well-established companies that share the same vision for quality and excellence,” Commented Sanad Aerotech CEO , Mr Mansoor Janahi.
“Our strategic alliance with Ethiopian Airlines goes beyond this announcement, as it provides greater opportunities for us to jointly collaborate and develop mutually beneficial activities across the entire African continent.”
The statement also quoted Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, who described the agreement as strategic alliance consistent with the Airline’s vision of making its MRO facility the leading service provider in Africa.
“Our MRO facility is ready to provide cost effective and efficient overhaul services with standard turnaround time to APUs of African Airlines.
Ethiopian would like to expand this cooperation with Sanad Aerotech to cover other aircraft components,” Mr GebreMariam said.
Sanad has built strategic relationships with leading international OEMs including Rolls-Royce, General Electric, and International Aero Engines.
These partnerships have enabled Sanad to deliver competitive aircraft engine MRO expertise throughout a variety of engine maintenance service programs across multiple engine platforms.
Ethiopian Airlines, on the other hand, is the largest and most prosperous carrier in Africa. It serves 119 international destinations with a fleet of more than 110 planes based in its Addis Ababa hub, including the ultra-modern Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
