Air Europa has extended its exclusive Boeing 787 nacelle maintenance agreement with Collins Aerospace through 2037, and is changing how the work is delivered: nacelles will be staged at the airline’s main base and backed by a forward exchange solution, part of a proactive approach the airline is adopting as its 787 fleet matures.

RTX, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, announced the renewal in a press release dated October 28, 2026, from Amsterdam. According to the release, the program covers thrust reverser and nacelle services and supports the airline’s long-term fleet strategy by improving operational reliability, maintenance planning and cost management. Neither company disclosed the value of the extension.

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What changes in the service structure

The release describes the renewal as a shift to a proactive approach as Air Europa’s 787 fleet matures. It is meant to provide rapid nacelle support for aircraft-on-ground (AOG) events and to allow predictable shop visit planning, which RTX said reduces unscheduled downtime and strengthens fleet readiness.

According to RTX, the updated service structure reduces costs for nacelle maintenance, transportation and leasing. Staging nacelles at the airline’s main base and using a forward exchange solution is intended to improve part availability, simplify planning and support budget management. The release does not say how many nacelles or spare units will be held at the base, or which Collins repair stations will handle the shop work.

“We continue to collaborate with Air Europa to align nacelle support with its long-term fleet strategy,” said PJ Titone, vice president and general manager, Aerostructures at Collins Aerospace. Titone said Collins brings technical expertise and global repair capacity, and that its nacelle expertise and flexible aftermarket support help customers get parts faster and avoid disruptions.

Pedro Macías, Chief Technical Officer of Air Europa, framed the decision around “Extending our relationship with Collins Aerospace for the next decade.” He said the renewal will improve daily operations, parts availability, shop turnaround management and budget accuracy.

Where the 2026 renewal fits in a longer contract history

The October 2026 announcement is the latest step in a relationship that Collins has described before. In a press release dated April 10, 2019, Collins said Air Europa had chosen it for ten years of exclusive nacelle maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support for the Boeing 787, including lease and exchange services. That deal, Collins said at the time, extended a 10-year agreement already in place, and Collins would also keep supporting the Airbus A330, Boeing 737, ATR 72 and Embraer E-195 operated by Air Europa and Air Europa Express.

In the 2019 release, Collins described Air Europa as the third largest airline in Spain, with 58 aircraft, and said the airline expected to grow its fleet and receive more Boeing 787s, which the agreement would cover. Collins also said it is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of all nacelles on Air Europa’s fleet, so it can apply its technical knowledge to the maintenance, repair and overhaul work.

The 2019 agreement named two Collins service centers for the work, in Prestwick, Scotland, and Toulouse, France, which together offered about 300,000 square feet of shop floor space. Collins said then that its global MRO network included eight facilities with more than 1.2 million square feet of MRO shop space. “Our focus is on perfecting the customer experience, and Air Europa’s decision to entrust us with another decade of its service needs tells us that we’re succeeding in that mission,” Marc Duvall, president of Aerostructures for Collins Aerospace, said in that release.

Nacelle aftermarket work has featured in other recent Collins agreements covered by AirPro News, including its nacelle MRO joint venture with Etihad Engineering and the nacelle tooling license renewal with Dedienne Aerospace.

The 787 fleet the agreement covers

AirPro Atlas flight data give a view of the Dreamliners involved. Since October 9, 2026, the AirPro Atlas has recorded 18 Boeing 787-9s and 9 Boeing 787-8s flying with Air Europa (UX), a SkyTeam member founded in 1986. The figures reflect aircraft seen flying in that period, not a registered fleet count.

Collins Aerospace is an RTX business whose products span avionics, aircraft interiors, aerostructures, engine components, mission systems, and power and control systems. RTX, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, said it has more than 180,000 employees worldwide and reported 2025 sales of more than $88 billion.

AerFin has agreed to acquire 44 Boeing 737NG aircraft and their 88 CFM56-7B engines from Qantas Airways (QF), a deal the UK aviation aftermarket company describes as the largest transaction in its history. The aircraft will move to AerFin over the next seven years, with the first due to arrive in 2026, as Qantas plans the retirement of most of its 737 fleet.

AerFin announced the agreement in a press release dated November 4, 2026. The announcement came days after the close of ORIX Aviation’s acquisition of AerFin: Aviation Week reported on November 4, 2026, that AerFin became a wholly owned subsidiary of ORIX Aviation effective November 2. The release does not disclose the value of the transaction.

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What AerFin is taking on

The package covers the 737NG airframes and their 88 CFM56-7B engines. AerFin said the transaction will support airline and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) customers around the world with aircraft material and tailored aftermarket solutions, and that it reinforces the company’s growing presence in Asia-Pacific.

Simon Goodson, Chief Executive Officer at AerFin, said in the release:

“This is a landmark transaction for AerFin and a defining moment in our growth journey.”

Goodson said the deal reflects the company’s ambition, the strength of its team and the confidence of the market, and that AerFin aims to maximise value from the assets while supporting customers across the global aviation aftermarket.

James Bennett, Chief Commercial Officer at AerFin, said “The Asia-Pacific market continues to present significant opportunities for the aviation aftermarket.” He added that the agreement reflects AerFin’s relationships with airlines and asset owners and its ability to offer flexible, commercially focused solutions across the aircraft lifecycle. AerFin said the acquisition is part of a wider strategy to expand its global asset portfolio and support airlines, lessors and MRO providers, and that demand for used serviceable material continues across the industry.

How the sale fits the Qantas narrowbody renewal

For Qantas, the agreement covers aircraft it plans to retire as new jets arrive. Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson said in the release that the 737s have been “the workhorse of the Qantas domestic operation” and will continue flying for the airline for many years alongside its growing fleet of new aircraft.

“This agreement allows us to plan for the retirement of the majority of our 737 fleet while also providing flexibility to adjust the timing as new aircraft arrive.”

Aviation Week reported that the sale covers most of the Qantas Boeing 737-800 fleet, which is being phased out as new Airbus narrowbodies arrive, and that Qantas operates 79 737-800s according to the Aviation Week Fleet Discovery database. AirPro Atlas data shows 75 Qantas Airways Boeing 737-800s seen flying since October 9, 2026, a count of active aircraft rather than a registered fleet.

The replacement is the Airbus A321XLR. According to Aviation Week, Qantas ordered 28 A321XLRs in 2022 to replace its 737NG domestic fleet. Qantas announced its order for 20 more A321XLRs on August 28, 2025, taking its total for the type to 48 aircraft. Qantas said at the time that sixteen of those 20 would have lie-flat Business seats and seatback screens for longer routes, with the new-configuration aircraft due to begin arriving in calendar year 2028.

Qantas said the A321XLR has a range of up to 8,700 km (about 4,700 nautical miles), more than 3,000 km (about 1,620 nautical miles) beyond the Boeing 737 it replaces. Aviation Week reported that Qantas has taken delivery of seven A321XLRs, with 41 still on order, and that low-cost subsidiary Jetstar has 12 A321XLRs on order, due to start arriving in 2027.

AerFin and its new owner

AerFin was founded in 2010 and supports more than 600 customers worldwide through the sale, lease, repair and management of aircraft, engines and parts, according to its release. ORIX Aviation described AerFin as a UK-based aviation aftermarket company specialising in aircraft and engine disassembly, component management, maintenance, and the sale or lease of serviceable parts, serving airlines, maintenance providers and leasing companies across six continents.

ORIX Aviation Systems Limited announced on August 3, 2026, that it had agreed to buy the entire issued share capital of AerFin Limited, with completion expected by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. ORIX Aviation said the deal marked its entry into the aviation aftermarket, adding used serviceable material, airframe and engine parts capabilities to its leasing and asset management platform. ORIX Aviation, established in 1991, owns and manages aircraft and provides asset management services to Japanese and international investors and funds.

Under the Qantas agreement, the first aircraft is due to transfer to AerFin in 2026 and the rest over seven years. The release does not give a schedule for individual aircraft, and Svensson said Qantas keeps the flexibility to adjust the timing as new aircraft arrive.

Florida State University (FSU) and The St. Joe Company have announced the development of a $398.8 million aerospace research and advanced manufacturing facility in Panama City, Florida, anchored by a 23-acre land donation and a $98.4 million regional grant.

The project, officially unveiled in a joint press release on November 3, 2026, represents a major physical expansion of FSU’s Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research and Education (InSPIRE). Positioned within The St. Joe Company’s VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre near the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), the site will focus on aerospace testing, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and national defense applications.

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Funding structure and project scope

The financial foundation for the Panama City facility relies on a combination of state recovery funds, university commitments, and future grant targets. The total estimated project cost for the InSPIRE initiative is $398.8 million. The primary catalyst for the development is a $98.4 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, a nonprofit organization that oversees funds recovered for economic damages from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funds are specifically designated for economic recovery and diversification in eight Northwest Florida counties.

The Triumph Gulf Coast board voted unanimously to support the FSU InSPIRE proposal in November 2023 and gave full and final approval to the proposed budget on April 10, 2024. In addition to the grant, FSU has committed $65 million to the project over a 10-year period. The university has also pledged to secure a minimum of $235 million in additional grant funding to complete the facility’s long-term objectives.

FSU President Richard McCullough formally announced the 23-acre land donation during the university’s Board of Trustees meeting on October 30, 2026, preceding the public announcement. Construction on the first phase of the aerospace and advanced manufacturing facility officially began on November 2, 2026.

“This is an exciting milestone for Florida State University and for Northwest Florida. InSPIRE will build on our strengths in aerospace research and advanced manufacturing while creating new opportunities for innovation, industry partnerships and high-paying jobs. We’re grateful to The St. Joe Company for donating this land and to Triumph Gulf Coast for helping make this project possible,” McCullough said.

Infrastructure and future hypersonic capabilities

The facility is located within the VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre, a commercial and industrial hub developed by The St. Joe Company. The development features pad-ready and build-to-suit sites designed specifically to attract aerospace, defense, and manufacturing businesses that require continuous operations and immediate access to air, land, and sea transportation networks.

William Brock, Vice President of Commercial Real Estate for The St. Joe Company, noted that the university’s presence will complement existing and future development at the site. He stated that the project demonstrates the potential of the strategically located commercial hub near the airport.

Following the completion of the centralized advanced manufacturing and aerospace testing facilities, FSU plans to expand the site’s technical capabilities. Future construction phases will include a hypersonic wind tunnel designed for research into high-speed flight technologies. This specific infrastructure is intended to support national defense applications and attract specialized aerospace contractors to the region.

Regional economic integration and corporate ties

The partnership between FSU and The St. Joe Company builds on established institutional connections. The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) is a diversified real estate development, asset management, and operating company headquartered in Watersound, Florida. Founded in 1936 as the St. Joe Paper Company, it is one of the largest private landowners in the state, with holdings heavily concentrated in the Northwest Panhandle.

Jorge Gonzalez, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of The St. Joe Company, is a two-time graduate of FSU and currently serves on the university’s Board of Trustees. The land donation and subsequent facility development align with the company’s broader strategy to anchor its commercial real estate portfolio with high-value research and manufacturing tenants.

“This project represents an important investment in Northwest Florida’s future. By bringing together university research, advanced manufacturing, and industry partners, FSU is helping to create opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and high paying jobs in our region,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez added that working with institutions like FSU helps create opportunities that attract talent to the area, support new businesses, and contribute to the continued growth of Northwest Florida.

FSU’s broader research expansion

The InSPIRE program serves as FSU’s applied research and workforce development arm in Northwest Florida. It is designed to accelerate technology innovation, cultivate corporate investment, and foster high-skill employment in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The aerospace facility announcement aligns with FSU’s broader “ASPIRE” strategic plan to expand its research infrastructure across multiple disciplines. In the weeks preceding the aerospace announcement, FSU opened the FSU Health research and collaboration building and secured $18 million in funding to develop an advanced research facility at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab). The Panama City project represents the university’s largest recent physical expansion specifically targeted at applied aerospace and defense research.