Emirates Airline has unveiled plans for the construction of an engine overhaul shop it says will be the most technologically advanced in Asia. The state-of-the-art engine shop will complement the present test cell facility in Dubai and will be constructed on a 90,000 square meter piece of land at an estimated cost of $120 million. Emirates says the growth of their fleet and the subsequent number of operating engines have necessitated the need for an in-house engine shop in Dubai to provide the most cost-effective, efficient engine maintenance.
“The establishment of an engine shop reemphasizes Emirates’ commitment to provide the highest standard of in-house maintenance to its fleet, utilizing best practices,” said Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. “The engine shop will create over 500 new job opportunities, with a large percentage of these to be occupied by UAE nationals.”
The engine shop will have the capability of performing 300 engine repairs per annum for the GE90 and GP7000 engines fitted to the B777 and A380 aircraft. It is anticipated that construction will commence by first quarter of 2012 and commissioned by the fourth quarter of 2014.
Emirates has signed a Letter of Intent with General Electric (GE) to oversee the design and construction of the shop.