LONDON, UK (Farnborough Air Show), July 22, 2026 – Collins Aerospace and Etihad Engineering are forming a joint venture (JV) to provide nacelle and thrust reverser MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) services for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets out of Abu Dhabi. Collins will relocate its existing UAE nacelle operations to Etihad Engineering’s 550,000-square-meter aviation maintenance center near Zayed International Airport, doubling the company’s current nacelle MRO footprint in the Middle East. The new 3,250-square-meter facility is expected to begin operations by Q1, 2027.
“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,” said PJ Titone, vice president and general manager of Advanced Structures for Collins Aerospace. “This joint venture expands our global MRO footprint and supports the rising number of commercial aircraft equipped with Collins nacelles helping carriers across the region reduce costs and improve turnaround times.”
Mahmood Al Hameli, group CEO of Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), said: “This new capability aligns with our Group’s long-term commitment to organic growth through capability enhancement and the development of local expertise. This not only broadens our service offerings but also enhances resilience and provides better responsiveness to our customers.”
“We offer our global customer base a wide range of industry-leading aircraft maintenance and engineering services in Abu Dhabi as a one-stop MRO solutions partner. The creation of this JV with Collins Aerospace strengthens our world-class value proposition by adding high-quality nacelle maintenance and thrust reverser MRO services to our comprehensive existing portfolio for our customers from all over the world,” said Daniel Hoffmann, CEO of Etihad Engineering.
The JV will operate as part of Collins’ aerostructures aftermarket network.
Source: RTX
About Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business based in Charlotte, North Carolina, designs, manufactures and services aerospace and defense systems. Its products include avionics, aerostructures, mission systems, and power and control technologies for commercial aircraft, military aircraft, space systems and connected platforms. The company serves aircraft manufacturers, airlines, defense agencies and business aviation customers. Since 2021, Collins has expanded maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, including work on electrical power systems, environmental and airframe control systems, and engine control systems. The company employs 150 people in Malaysia and 10,000 people across 24 locations in eight Asia-Pacific countries, including Singapore, China, India, Australia, Japan, Korea and the Philippines. Collins has operated in the region for more than 50 years, providing MRO, manufacturing, engineering, project management and customer support.
About Etihad Engineering
Etihad Engineering provides aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) and technical training services in Abu Dhabi. The company performs heavy airframe checks, cabin upgrades, structural repairs, modifications, painting and aircraft recovery. Its workshops inspect, repair and overhaul commercial aircraft components. Engineering teams also manage design changes, certification work and approved parts production. The company trains technicians on Airbus and Boeing aircraft under aviation authority approvals. Etihad Engineering serves airlines, aircraft operators, leasing companies, manufacturers and other aviation organizations. Its facilities handle wide-body and narrow-body aircraft, including Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 models. The company is headquartered near Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It has served more than 100 airlines and operators. Etihad Engineering employs about 2,000 employees from more than 50 countries.