Press archive detail

• Three new customers: Air New Zealand, Southern Air and V Australia
• Exclusive contracts worth a total of approximately 550 million U.S. dollars

Hanover, Germany, September 12, 2011 – MTU Maintenance Hannover has succeeded in winning its first GE90 maintenance customers: Air New Zealand, Southern Air and V Australia will have their GE90-110Bs and -115Bs supported by MTU. The engines are powering the Boeing 777s operated by these airlines. The contracts have a combined value of approximately 550 million U.S. dollars. "This breakthrough marks our entry into an important market for our future," commented Dr. Stefan Weingartner, MTU President Commercial Maintenance. "I'm sure work on the world's most powerful commercial jet engine will contribute significantly to the efficient utilization of shop capacities at our Hanover location." MTU Maintenance has obtained the MRO license for the new engine type last year and is optimally prepared for this propulsion system.

Air New Zealand, the first airline to entrust MTU with GE90 maintenance, has been a regular customer of MTU Maintenance for many years: The carrier from New Zealand has been sending its CF6-80C2 engines to the German MRO specialists for shop visits under an exclusive contract since 2007. The deal now inked adds the 10 GE90-115B engines powering the airline's 5 Boeing 777-300ER jets, plus 2 spare engines.

U.S. cargo carrier Southern Air, an MTU Maintenance customer since 2002, has concluded an exclusive 12-year maintenance and spare engine support contract covering all present and future GE90-110B engines in Southern Air’s 777 Freighter fleet. Southern Air took delivery of its first two 777 Freighters last year. The company will take delivery of an additional two 777 Freighters in March-April 2012 and is actively looking to add additional 777 Freighters to its fleet. The carrier currently operates also 11 Boeing 747-200s and will be adding four 747-400s at the beginning of next year.

The third airline to become a new GE90 customer is V Australia, a subsidiary of Virgin Australia. The carrier will send its fleet of GE90-115B Growth engines powering its five Boeing 777-300ER to Hanover for maintenance.

About MTU Aero Engines
MTU Maintenance is the largest independent provider of commercial engine MRO services worldwide and operates affiliates in all major regions and markets around the globe. MTU Maintenance Hannover, the group's flagship company, specializes in the repair and overhaul of medium and large scale commercial engines, among them the General Electric CF6-50, CF6-80C2 and GE90-110B/-115B, the Pratt & Whitney PW2000, the International Aero Engines V2500, and the CFM International CFM56-7. Alongside technical repair offerings, including hightech repair techniques, the company also provides additional services like technical and logistic support up to complete LRU support, engine leasing, customer training, onsite services and 24-hour service support. 

MTU Maintenance’s parent company is MTU Aero Engines, Germany's leading engine manufacturer and the country's only independent engine builder. MTU is an established player in the industry and has a workforce of more than 8,000 employees worldwide. A technology leader, the company excels in low-pressure turbines and high-pressure compressors, as well as in manufacturing and repair techniques.