MRO & Manufacturing
RTX Collins Aerospace Secures 20 Year Maintenance Deals with China Airlines
Collins Aerospace secures long-term contracts with China Airlines to provide predictive maintenance solutions for Boeing widebody fleet in Asia-Pacific.
RTX Corporation’s Collins Aerospace division has secured two landmark 20-year service contracts with China Airlines, Taiwan’s flagship carrier, to deliver FlightSense and Dispatch solutions for the airline’s Boeing widebody fleet. These agreements mark a significant expansion of Collins Aerospace’s footprint in the Asia-Pacific region and highlight the rising importance of predictive maintenance solutions in commercial aviation. The contracts are designed to boost China Airlines’ operational efficiency, enhance aircraft reliability, and streamline maintenance schedules across critical systems such as avionics, cargo, power, environmental control, and lighting.
This development comes amid robust growth in the global aircraft maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) sector, which was valued at around USD 90.85 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach over USD 120 billion by 2030. As airlines worldwide navigate the challenges of aging fleets, new aircraft integration, and sustainability goals, long-term partnerships like this one between Collins Aerospace and China Airlines are becoming increasingly strategic.
The contracts, announced during the MRO Asia Pacific conference, signal a shift toward data-driven, proactive maintenance strategies that can reduce costs and minimize disruptions in a highly competitive and regulated industry.
Collins Aerospace stands as one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense suppliers, formed through the 2018 merger of Rockwell Collins and UTC Aerospace Systems. Now a subsidiary of RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon Technologies), Collins Aerospace is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and reported $26 billion in sales in 2019, with a workforce of approximately 68,000 employees globally. RTX Corporation, the parent, emerged from the 2020 merger of United Technologies and Raytheon Company, establishing itself as the world’s largest aerospace and defense company with over 185,000 employees and 2024 sales exceeding $80 billion.
Collins Aerospace operates through six business units: Aerostructures, Avionics, Interiors, Mission Systems, Connected Aviation Solutions, and Power & Controls. Its broad product and service portfolio covers commercial aviation, business jets, military and defense, helicopters, space, and airport infrastructure. The company’s strategy has included targeted acquisitions, such as the 2021 purchase of FlightAware, a leader in real-time and predictive flight data, and divestitures like the 2023 sale of its actuation and flight controls business to Safran, to sharpen its focus on core competencies and digital aviation solutions.
RTX’s scale and diversification, with major subsidiaries including Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon, give Collins Aerospace significant market reach and the resources to invest in advanced technology, positioning it as a key player in the evolution of aviation maintenance and operations.
The Asia-Pacific region is currently one of the fastest-growing aviation markets, driven by rising passenger traffic and significant investments in fleet modernization. Collins Aerospace’s new long-term contracts with China Airlines reinforce its commitment to this dynamic market. The agreements also build on a pattern of similar wins in the region, such as a recent contract renewal with Japan Airlines, demonstrating Collins’ ability to deliver value to leading carriers through advanced maintenance and analytics solutions.
By securing these contracts, Collins Aerospace is not only expanding its regional presence but also positioning itself as a preferred partner for airlines seeking to leverage predictive maintenance to enhance competitiveness and operational resilience. This move aligns with broader industry trends, where airlines are increasingly seeking integrated, data-driven solutions to manage the complexity and cost of modern fleets.
“FlightSense will provide China Airlines with more than just reliable service and access to data, it will enable a connected aircraft ecosystem, turning raw data into actionable insights and smarter decisions for fleets.” , Brian Barta, Collins Aerospace
China Airlines, established in 1959 and based in Taoyuan International Airport, is in the midst of a complex fleet renewal. The carrier operates a diverse fleet of 87 passenger and cargo aircraft, including A321neo, A350-900, 777-300ER, A330-300, and 737-800 models. The average age of its A330 fleet is 17.7 years, with some aircraft exceeding 20 years in service, creating an urgent need for modernization to maintain efficiency and competitiveness.
Delays in Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner deliveries have forced China Airlines to extend the service life of older aircraft, including leased jets, to maintain capacity. This situation has led to increased maintenance costs and operational complexity, while also prompting the airline to seek compensation discussions with Boeing. Despite these challenges, China Airlines has placed substantial orders for new aircraft, including 24 Boeing 787s (18 787-9s and six 787-10s), ten A350-1000s, and additional A321neos, with a total list price value approaching $12 billion. These investments are part of a broader strategy to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, supporting the airline’s Net Zero by 2050 target.
The timing of the Collins Aerospace contracts is critical, providing China Airlines with the technological and operational support needed to manage both legacy and next-generation fleets during this transitional period. According to the airline’s 2025 investor presentation, China Airlines has 36 aircraft on order, with a fleet plan extending through 2032 that includes both passenger and cargo models.
China Airlines reported consolidated revenue of NT$104.06 billion (approximately US$3.56 billion) for the first half of 2025, a 5.24% year-on-year increase. This growth, driven by strong travel demand and cargo operations, helps offset the financial pressures of fleet renewal and long-term service contracts. The airline’s ongoing capital expenditures, such as over $2 billion in recent aircraft leases and orders, underscore the need for cost-predictable, value-driven maintenance partnerships.
Across the broader Chinese airline industry, major carriers like Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern continue to face financial headwinds, with losses expected in 2025 due to currency volatility, geopolitical tensions, and subdued business travel. These challenges make operational efficiency and reliability, as provided by predictive maintenance solutions, even more crucial for sustainable growth.
The Asia-Pacific region’s MRO sector is forecasted to experience the highest compound annual growth rate globally, making it a strategic priority for providers like Collins Aerospace seeking long-term, high-value service agreements with leading carriers.
Collins Aerospace’s FlightSense program is a comprehensive lifecycle maintenance solution tailored to the unique needs of airline operations. It integrates the Ascentia analytics platform, which leverages advanced prognostics, health management software, and machine learning to transform raw operational data into actionable maintenance insights. By evaluating thousands of parameters, Ascentia enables predictive maintenance, helping airlines schedule repairs before failures occur, thus reducing unscheduled downtime and improving safety and reliability. The Dispatch program, included in the China Airlines contracts, offers fixed-rate, guaranteed component availability and logistical support for the airline’s Boeing 787, 777, and 777 freighter fleet. This model provides cost predictability and minimizes operational disruptions, a critical advantage in an industry where maintenance costs are volatile and reliability is paramount.
Ascentia’s capabilities extend to natural language processing, as seen in the Repeaters application, which can automatically resolve coding and text errors in maintenance logs, streamlining data management and enabling more precise decision-making. The platform’s flexibility allows airlines to customize service levels and integrate predictive maintenance into diverse operational models, whether for small regional carriers or large international fleets.
“Using the FlightSense program, especially the Ascentia analytics platform, we aim to make our preventive and predictive maintenance even more accurate.” , Kyohei Takizawa, Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines’ recent renewal of a 10-year FlightSense contract, which includes air management and power components for over 50 Boeing 787s, highlights the practical benefits of these solutions. The contract also extends JAL’s Ascentia analytics agreement, providing ongoing operational insights and cost reduction. Airlines that have adopted predictive maintenance platforms like Ascentia have reported measurable improvements, such as a 15% reduction in unscheduled maintenance events, supporting the business case for further industry adoption.
Collins Aerospace faces competition in this space from companies such as Lufthansa Technik, Honeywell, Thales, and Infosys. The market is moderately concentrated in software solutions but fragmented in services, with both global and regional providers vying for market share. Collins’ integration of hardware, software, and support services offers a competitive edge, especially as airlines seek holistic, technology-driven solutions.
Digitalization and the use of IoT, big data analytics, and AI are reshaping the MRO market. Airlines and MRO providers are leveraging cloud-based systems and digital twins to optimize maintenance schedules, improve data accessibility, and reduce costs. Regulatory pressures and sustainability goals further drive the adoption of predictive maintenance, as airlines look to minimize waste and extend component lifecycles.
The 20-year contracts between Collins Aerospace and China Airlines represent a significant shift in the aviation industry’s approach to maintenance, emphasizing proactive, data-driven solutions over traditional reactive models. These agreements provide long-term revenue stability for Collins Aerospace and operational predictability for China Airlines, supporting the airline’s ambitious fleet renewal and sustainability objectives.
As the global MRO market continues to grow and technological innovation accelerates, partnerships like this set a precedent for the industry. They demonstrate how digital transformation, predictive analytics, and integrated service models can deliver tangible benefits, reducing costs, improving reliability, and supporting environmental goals. The success of these contracts may encourage broader adoption of similar strategies across the aviation sector, shaping the future of airline maintenance and operations.
What are the main features of Collins Aerospace’s FlightSense and Dispatch programs? How will these contracts benefit China Airlines? What technology underpins Collins Aerospace’s predictive maintenance solutions? How does predictive maintenance support sustainability? Who are Collins Aerospace’s main competitors in the MRO and predictive maintenance market?
RTX’s Collins Aerospace Secures Major 20-Year Maintenance Contracts with China Airlines
Collins Aerospace and RTX Corporation: Background and Global Presence
Strategic Expansion into Asia-Pacific
China Airlines’ Fleet Modernization and Operational Challenges
Financial and Industry Context
FlightSense, Dispatch, and the Ascentia Platform: Technology in Action
Proven Results and Industry Adoption
Conclusion
FAQ
FlightSense provides full lifecycle maintenance support with predictive analytics, while Dispatch offers fixed-rate, guaranteed component availability and MRO support for specific aircraft fleets.
The contracts will enhance operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and provide cost predictability for China Airlines during its fleet modernization, supporting both legacy and new aircraft operations.
The Ascentia platform, which uses advanced analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing, is central to Collins’ predictive maintenance offerings, enabling data-driven decision-making and proactive repairs.
By optimizing aircraft performance, reducing unnecessary maintenance, and extending component lifecycles, predictive maintenance helps airlines lower resource consumption and support carbon reduction goals.
Key competitors include Honeywell, Lufthansa Technik, Thales, Infosys, and various regional MRO providers.
Sources
Photo Credit: RTX
MRO & Manufacturing
Bombardier Acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions to Expand US Service Network
Bombardier acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions, adding a Delaware facility and mobile repair units to enhance its U.S. aftermarket services.
On February 9, 2026, Bombardier announced the acquisition of Velocity Maintenance Solutions, a specialized provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services based in Wilmington, Delaware. The transaction, executed through Bombardier’s U.S. subsidiary Learjet Inc., represents a strategic expansion of the manufacturer’s aftermarket footprint in the high-traffic Northeast corridor.
The acquisition provides Bombardier with immediate access to a 35,000-square-foot facility at New Castle Airport (ILG) and a fleet of mobile repair units designed for rapid response. While financial terms of the deal remain confidential, the move aligns with the company’s stated objective to grow its services revenue and secure a stronger domestic presence in the United States.
According to the company’s official statement, the acquisition is designed to bolster support for Bombardier’s growing fleet of business jets, including the ultra-long-range Global 8000. By integrating Velocity Maintenance Solutions, Bombardier aims to capture more of the lifecycle maintenance market, a sector that offers stable margins compared to the cyclical nature of aircraft sales.
The deal includes significant physical and operational assets that will be integrated into Bombardier’s service network:
Paul Sislian, Executive Vice President of Bombardier Aftermarket Services, highlighted the cultural fit between the two organizations in the press release.
“Velocity Maintenance Solutions’ capabilities and customer-focused culture make it an excellent fit for Bombardier… This acquisition is part of our commitment to continually elevate our service standards.”
Velocity Maintenance Solutions has established itself as an agile player in the MRO space since its emergence around 2021. As an FAA Part 145 Repair Station, the company is authorized to perform scheduled maintenance, structural repairs, and avionics upgrades.
Prior to the acquisition, Velocity serviced a diverse range of aircraft, including models from Embraer, Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream, and Textron, in addition to Bombardier jets. The facility is known for its 24/7 emergency support capabilities, a critical service for business jet operators requiring immediate dispatch reliability.
This acquisition arrives during a complex period for the aerospace industry, characterized by both consolidation and geopolitical friction. By executing the purchase through Learjet Inc., a heritage U.S. brand based in Wichita, Kansas, Bombardier reinforces its status as a significant U.S. employer. This distinction is increasingly vital as the company navigates trade tensions, including recent tariff threats from the U.S. administration regarding Canadian aerospace products.
Expanding physical infrastructure within the United States serves a dual purpose: it insulates the company’s service supply chain from potential cross-border friction and strengthens its eligibility for U.S. defense contracts. Furthermore, in an industry facing a chronic shortage of skilled labor, acquiring a “turnkey” operation with a certified workforce allows Bombardier to bypass the long lead times associated with recruiting and training new technicians. The location in Wilmington also places Bombardier in direct competition with other major service providers at New Castle Airport, including a Dassault Falcon service center, signaling an aggressive push to dominate the Northeast service market.
The acquisition was made by Learjet Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Bombardier.
The existing team of technicians and support staff at Velocity Maintenance Solutions will be retained and integrated into Bombardier’s workforce.
While the press release emphasizes support for Bombardier’s fleet, Velocity has historically serviced various manufacturers. OEMs often honor existing third-party contracts during transition periods, though the long-term focus typically shifts to the parent company’s products.
Bombardier Acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions to Densify U.S. Service Network
Expanding the Aftermarket Ecosystem
Target Profile: Velocity Maintenance Solutions
AirPro News Analysis: Strategic and Political Context
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the acquiring entity?
What happens to the current workforce?
Will Velocity continue to service non-Bombardier aircraft?
Sources
Photo Credit: Velocity Maintenance Solutions
MRO & Manufacturing
Satair and Joramco Extend 25-Year Partnership at MRO Middle East 2026
Satair and Joramco renew their 25-year supply agreement at MRO Middle East 2026, supporting Joramco’s maintenance operations and new contracts.
This article is based on an official press release from Satair and additional industry reporting regarding MRO Middle East 2026.
At the MRO Middle East 2026 exhibition in Dubai, Satair, an Airbus Services company, and Joramco (Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Limited) officially announced the renewal of their long-standing Consumables and Expendables Supply Agreement. The deal marks the continuation of a strategic partnership that has spanned more than a quarter of a century, reinforcing the critical role of integrated supply chains in the growing Middle Eastern aviation maintenance sector.
According to the announcement, the renewed agreement is designed to secure a consistent flow of essential spare parts for Joramco’s base maintenance operations in Amman, Jordan. By locking in this supply chain solution, Joramco aims to minimize “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG) risks and reduce the complexity of material management for its expanding customer base.
The partnership between Satair and Joramco is one of the most enduring in the region. For over 25 years, Satair has served as a primary provider of consumables and expendables, high-volume, low-cost parts essential for routine maintenance, to the Jordan-based MRO provider.
In the official release, the companies highlighted the operational benefits of the extension. The agreement allows Joramco to leverage Satair’s global distribution network, ensuring that parts are available precisely when needed. This “just-in-time” capability is vital for MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul providers) striving to offer competitive turnaround times to airlines.
A primary focus of the renewal is the mitigation of supply chain disruptions. By outsourcing the management of consumables to Satair, Joramco can focus its internal resources on heavy maintenance and engineering tasks rather than logistics. The agreement reportedly covers a comprehensive range of Airbus and Boeing fleet requirements, aligning with Joramco’s diverse capabilities.
“This continued partnership with Satair ensures we have the right parts at the right time, allowing us to deliver superior turnaround times to our global customers.”
, Statement attributed to Joramco leadership regarding the renewal
The renewal comes amidst a flurry of activity at MRO Middle East 2026, where both companies have announced significant independent expansions. The event, held on February 4–5, 2026, has served as a platform for major industry shifts in the region. According to industry reporting from the event, Joramco has also secured a major five-year heavy maintenance agreement with the German leisure carrier Condor. This deal will see Joramco performing base maintenance on Condor’s entire Airbus fleet, including the A320ceo, A320neo, and A330neo. Additionally, Joramco celebrated the first graduates of its Structured On-the-Job Training (SOJT) program, a move aimed at addressing the global shortage of skilled aviation technicians.
Simultaneously, Satair has expanded its footprint in the sustainability sector. Reports from the event indicate Satair signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAMECO (Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co.) to enter the Used Serviceable Material (USM) market, addressing the rising demand for cost-effective and sustainable parts solutions.
The renewal of the Satair-Joramco agreement highlights a critical trend in the post-2025 aviation landscape: the prioritization of supply chain resilience. In an era where global parts shortages have frequently grounded fleets, MRO providers are increasingly moving toward long-term, integrated agreements with major distributors rather than relying on spot-market purchasing.
Furthermore, the Middle East’s trajectory as a global MRO hub is evident in these announcements. Joramco’s ability to secure European contracts like the Condor deal, backed by a robust supply chain from Satair, suggests that regional players are successfully competing on a global scale by combining geographic advantages with high-grade logistical reliability.
Satair and Joramco Extend 25-Year Supply Chain Partnership at MRO Middle East 2026
Strengthening a Quarter-Century Alliance
Operational Efficiency and AOG Reduction
Broader Context: MRO Middle East 2026 Developments
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Photo Credit: Satair
MRO & Manufacturing
Joramco Renews Maintenance Agreement with mas Cargo Airline for 2026
Joramco extends its maintenance contract with Mexican cargo airline mas for heavy checks on Airbus A330 freighters throughout 2026 at its Amman facility.
This article is based on an official press release from Joramco.
Joramco, the Amman-based aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility and engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), has officially announced the renewal of its maintenance agreement with mas (formerly MasAir), a prominent Mexican cargo airline. The agreement was finalized and signed during the MRO Middle East 2026 exhibition in Dubai, marking a continuation of the strategic partnership between the two entities.
Under the terms of the renewed contract, Joramco will perform heavy base maintenance checks on the mas fleet of Airbus A330 freighters. The work is scheduled to take place throughout 2026 at Joramco’s facility at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. This announcement underscores the MRO provider’s increasing traction in the global cargo sector and its ability to secure recurring business from international carriers outside its traditional regional stronghold.
According to the company’s announcement, the new deal focuses specifically on heavy base maintenance, often referred to as C-checks, for the carrier’s Airbus A330 fleet. These checks are critical for ensuring the continued airworthiness and operational reliability of the freighter aircraft, which are essential to mas’s global logistics network.
This renewal follows a successful initial collaboration established relatively recently. Joramco and mas first formalized their partnerships in October 2025 at the MRO Europe exhibition in London. That initial agreement covered maintenance checks that began in December 2025. The rapid renewal, signed just four months later, suggests a successful execution of the initial checks and a deepening of the business relationship.
In a statement regarding the renewal, Joramco’s leadership highlighted the significance of the repeat business.
“We are pleased to welcome more aircraft from mas at Joramco. This agreement reaffirms Joramco’s position as a trusted Global MRO provider of choice.”
, Adam Voss, CEO of Joramco
The agreement with mas aligns with Joramco’s broader strategy to expand its global footprint. By securing a renewal with a Latin American carrier, the Jordan-based MRO is demonstrating its competitiveness on a global scale, attracting airframes from the Americas to the Middle-East for heavy maintenance. The timing of this renewal is notable within the wider context of the MRO industry’s capacity constraints. In late 2025, Joramco inaugurated “Hangar 7,” a significant infrastructure expansion that reportedly increased its capacity to 22 parallel maintenance lines. This expansion appears to be paying dividends, allowing the facility to accommodate the “more aircraft” referenced by CEO Adam Voss.
Furthermore, the cargo market remains a demanding sector requiring high asset utilization. For a specialized Cargo-Aircraft airline like mas, which operates a modernizing fleet of Airbus A330 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft, securing reliable MRO slots is a strategic priority. The quick transition from an initial contract in late 2025 to a full-year renewal for 2026 indicates that Joramco has successfully met the technical and turnaround time requirements demanded by the cargo carrier.
Joramco: A subsidiary of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), Joramco has operated for over 60 years. Based in Amman, Jordan, it provides airframe maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer aircraft.
mas: Headquartered in Mexico City, mas (formerly MasAir) is a specialized cargo airline operating scheduled and charter freight services across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The airline has been actively expanding its capacity with Airbus A330 freighters to support its international network.
Sources:
Joramco Extends Maintenance Partnership with mas Cargo Airline for 2026
Scope of the Renewed Agreement
Strategic Context and Capacity Expansion
AirPro News Analysis
About the Companies
Photo Credit: Joramco
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