Honeywell has appointed Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) as its first authorised service centre in the Middle East with a global license for the 131-9 auxiliary power units (APUs) installed on 737 Next Generation and A320 aircraft.

As part of a 10-year agreement, Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding-owned SAEI will provide inspection, repair, overhaul and upgrades for the 131-9 APU models from its facility in Jeddah.

Honeywell said owners and operators of the aircraft in the Middle East could now repair their APUs locally, instead of sending them to facilities outside the region.

SAEI and Honeywell began collaborating in 2013, with the former now having completed more than 100 APU repairs.

“This appointment extends our relationship with SAEI to better serve our customers in the region by giving them access to faster, locally accessible maintenance services,” said Honeywell’s president and CEO, Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Central Asia Mohammed Mohaisen. “Our strategic partnership supports SAEI’s Saudi Vision 2030 objectives and is further proof of Honeywell’s commitment to localisation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Arabian Airlines’ director general His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Alomar commented: “The collaboration between SAEI and Honeywell to provide authorised service in Saudi Arabia will be hailed by aircraft owners and operators in the Middle East and North Africa region as a promising development.

“At Saudia, we are delighted that SAEI has taken the lead in bringing the advanced technology and know-how to Saudi Arabia, enabling easier and faster access to the repair and overhaul of APUs in the region. We hope the move will be considered a huge leap in the Kingdom’s drive to increase local content in line with Vision 2030 goals.”

SAEI’s CEO Captain Fahd Hamzh Cynndy said: “We are delighted to be appointed as the first authorised global Honeywell service centre in the Middle East region for the 131-9 APUs and proud of our strengthening relationship with Honeywell. I am confident that our industry-leading capabilities will provide airline owners and operators with easy access to reliable, cost-effective and timely services, enabling them to achieve enhanced safety and efficiency while offering superior passenger connectivity and convenience.”