MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and ANA Forge 2032 MRO Pact to Sustain CFM56-7B Fleet Excellence

MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and ANA Forge 2032 MRO Pact to Sustain CFM56-7B Fleet Excellence

(IN BRIEF) MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have signed a long-term contract, running until the end of 2032, for the MRO of ANA’s fleet of CFM56-7B engines that power 47 Boeing 737NG aircraft. Covering approximately 100 engines, the agreement reinforces the enduring collaboration between ANA and MTU Maintenance Zhuhai—a joint venture of MTU Aero Engines and China Southern Airlines. The contract emphasizes the company’s commitment to supporting popular narrowbody engine types with its specialized repair facilities and on-site services. Notable features of the partnership include dedicated support for demanding operational conditions and the integration of a global network, where maintenance work is distributed across facilities in Zhuhai, Berlin–Brandenburg, Hannover, São Paulo, and Dallas. With a history of over 3,000 shop visits, including 1,400 on the CFM56-7B alone, and a 10-percent market share for this engine type in 2024, MTU underscores its leadership in the MRO market. Executives from ANA and MTU highlighted the benefits of this collaboration, which ensures high operational uptime and leverages global expertise to deliver exceptional service quality.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 17-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — In a major development, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have entered into a comprehensive agreement for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of ANA’s fleet of CFM56-7B engines, which power its 47 Boeing 737NG aircraft. This contract, a testament to a long-standing collaboration between Japan’s largest airline and Asia’s premier provider of customized MRO solutions for aero engines, will extend until the end of 2032 and covers ANA’s entire CFM56-7B engine fleet—approximately 100 engines in total.

MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, a joint venture formed by MTU Aero Engines and China Southern Airlines, is renowned for its expertise in servicing today’s most popular narrowbody engines, including CFM International’s CFM56-5B/7B and LEAP-1A/1B series, along with Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G-JM and IAE’s V2500 engines. For the Nova Scotia-based wind of this project, MTU will deploy its extensive network of repair facilities and on-site services to ensure the utmost reliability and performance of the engines, particularly through its dedicated support for cold and demanding operational environments.

Hideaki Honda, Vice President, Global Supplier Relation & Planning at ANA, remarked, “This agreement marks another significant milestone in our 15-year partnership. It is reassuring to have such extensive engine MRO expertise readily available in our region, which guarantees the smooth operation of our 737NG fleet, even under challenging conditions.”

Adding further insight, Martin Friis-Petersen, Senior Vice President of MRO Programs at MTU Aero Engines, noted, “Our collaboration with ANA truly exemplifies the strength of our global network. We see their CF6-80C2 engines in our Hannover facility and the CFM56 engines here in Zhuhai, while repairs on engine parts and accessories are carried out in Vancouver and other dedicated repair centers. This contract underlines the benefits of our integrated global support and our commitment to maintaining high levels of uptime and operational excellence.”

Gert Wagner, President and CEO of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, emphasized the critical expertise required to manage complex engine fleets: “It is a privilege for ANA to entrust its engines to us. As specialists in narrowbody engine MRO, we have developed deep know-how on the CFM56-7B over the years, which enables us to meet any service demand with confidence. We eagerly look forward to deepening our cooperation with ANA and continuing to exchange valuable insights.”

Since the introduction of the CFM56 in the early 2000s, MTU Maintenance has completed over 3,000 shop visits across its network, with more than 1,400 visits focused solely on the CFM56-7B. In 2024, the group captured a 10-percent market share for this engine type. Beyond the dedicated work at the Zhuhai facility—encompassing both on- and near-wing scopes—maintenance is also performed at the Berlin–Brandenburg location, with additional support from sites in Hannover, São Paulo, and Dallas via the ON-SITEPlus service, which is now capable of conducting performance tests on the CFM56-7B.

MTU Aero Engines AG is a globally recognized expert in commercial and military aircraft engines. MTU‘s high-tech expertise ranges from the development and production of high-quality components to the final assembly of complete engines and the maintenance of aircraft engines and stationary gas turbines. In the financial year 2024, the DAX-listed company generated revenues of 7.5 billion euros. MTU technology can be found providing reliable thrust in one in three commercial aircraft worldwide. And every year, MTU maintains around 1,500 engines and industrial gas turbines. At 19 locations on five continents, more than 12,000 employees from over 80 nations contribute to safe global mobility. Together with other European engine manufacturers, MTU has also been ensuring and supporting the operational readiness of air forces for decades. To continue to benefit from the sustained growth of the aviation industry in the years to come, the company is investing in its expertise, industrial capacities and in future commercial and military engine concepts in Germany and worldwide. With the passion and innovative strength of its employees, MTU is shaping modern aviation – today, tomorrow and in the decades to come.

Media Contact:

Saša Lakić
Press Officer MRO
Cell: +49 170 549 1691
sasa.lakic2@mtu.de

SOURCE: MTU