Collins Aerospace and Etihad Engineering Launch Abu Dhabi MRO JV

Collins Aerospace and Etihad Airways Engineering LLC announced a joint venture on July 21, 2026, to establish a dedicated nacelle and thrust reverser maintenance facility in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The agreement, formalized during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, will double the Middle East maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) footprint for Collins Aerospace, an RTX Corporation business. According to the company’s press release, the partnership targets the growing regional and international demand for widebody aftermarket support, specifically for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets.

Expanding Middle East MRO capabilities

Collins Aerospace will relocate its existing United Arab Emirates nacelle operations to the new site. The joint venture will occupy a 3,250-square-meter dedicated facility within Etihad Engineering’s broader 550,000-square-meter aviation maintenance center adjacent to Zayed International Airport (AUH). Operations at the new site are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

PJ Titone, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Structures for Collins Aerospace, stated that co-locating with Etihad Engineering’s heavy maintenance facility allows the company to deliver enhanced service levels to the region’s aviation market.

“This joint venture expands our global MRO footprint and supports the rising number of commercial aircraft equipped with Collins nacelles helping carriers across the region reduce costs and improve turnaround times,” Titone said.

Building on prior agreements

The formal joint venture follows a preliminary agreement signed on March 1, 2023, when the two organizations initially outlined plans to establish a nacelle center of excellence in Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways Engineering operates as part of the Abu Dhabi Aviation group.

Mahmood Al Hameli, Group Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Aviation, noted the strategic fit of the partnership. He stated the new capability aligns with the group’s long-term commitment to organic growth through capability enhancement and the development of local expertise.

AirPro News analysis

We view this joint venture as a logical consolidation of widebody maintenance infrastructure in the Middle-East. The region serves as a primary global hub for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 operations, driven by major carriers operating high-utilization schedules. By embedding original equipment manufacturer (OEM) nacelle capabilities directly within a major airline-affiliated MRO provider, both Collins Aerospace and Etihad Engineering position themselves to capture a larger share of the widebody aftermarket. Financial terms and specific ownership stakes for the joint venture have not been disclosed.

Sources: RTX