Pakistan-based start-up airline Air Sial has handed MTU Maintenance a five-year contract for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of its six V2500 engines.

The agreement also includes engine trend monitoring, on-site services and lease engine support as well as technical training.

Air Sial began operations in December 2020 and currently flies to domestic locations within Pakistan. The airline aims to boost air travel and connectivity in the region and plans to carry out cross-border flights from 2021.

Air Sial’s chairman Fazal Jilani said he was “confident that MTU’s engine experts will minimise our costs and optimise our usage to gain the maximum benefit and performance from our engines”.

MTU Aero Engines’ chief program officer Michael Schreyögg commented: “It was fantastic to see Air Sial entering into operations and joining the market at the end of a rather challenging 2020. It is a clear signal of better times to come.

“At MTU, we believe in the recovery and subsequent success of the aviation industry and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with newcomer Air Sial.”