MTU Maintenance Zhuhai has signed a contract with Japan’s largest carrier, All Nippon Airways (ANA), for the MRO of the airline’s CFM56-7B engines powering its 47 Boeing 737NG aircraft.

To run until the end of 2032, the contract covers ANA’s entire CFM56-7B fleet of approximately 100 engines and serves as an extension of the long-standing business relationship between the two companies.

Last December, MTU Maintenance celebrated its network’s 25,000th shop visit with ANA at its Hannover location, where the carrier’s CF6-80C2 engines are maintained.

Hideaki Honda, vice president of global supplier relation and planning at ANA, said: “MTU’s people are specialists when it comes to engine MRO. Having such vast expertise for the CFM56 essentially in our backyard is a great advantage and ensures the smooth operation of ANA’s 737NG fleet.”

Martin Friis-Petersen, senior vice president of MRO programmes at MTU Aero Engines, said: “Our work with ANA is truly a continuous network success. We see their CF6-80C2 engines in our Hannover shop and the CFM56 engines here in Zhuhai, while repairs on engine parts and accessories are done in Vancouver and MTU’s other dedicated repair facilities. We are thrilled that we can continue down this road with ANA for the foreseeable future.”

Gert Wagner, president and chief executive of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, said: “Over the years, we have amassed enormous know-how and experience on the CFM56-7B to satisfy any MRO demand ANA might have, and we are looking forward to working together and exchanging further insights as part of our on-going and trusting relationship.”