AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings has completed a major phase of a €22 million expansion at its production facility in Pamiers, France, positioning the site to increase its European manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

Announced in a company press release on July 16, 2026, the milestone marks a significant step in a modernization project that began with a groundbreaking in July 2024. The upgrades are designed to improve workflow efficiency, expand storage, and support the industry transition toward next-generation, non-chromate coating technologies.

Infrastructure and safety upgrades

The project includes a new warehouse facility exceeding 2,000 square meters for raw materials and finished products. This building features advanced temperature-controlled storage cells to optimize product preservation and stock management.

AkzoNobel also constructed a 638-square-meter waste management facility. The structure is equipped with next-generation sprinkler systems, zoned automatic detection, and controlled intervention technology to enhance operational safety.

Quality control and production enhancements

The Pamiers site expansion heavily targets quality control, increasing the department’s capacity by 166 percent. Upgrades include four new application cabins and a specialized cabin dedicated to chromate products, which features secure airlock access and specialized insulation. The laboratory also received eight new benches with integrated extraction hoods.

On the manufacturing floor, the company installed new precision weighing systems, additional paint tanks, and an automatic beads mill specifically dedicated to non-chromate coatings. A redesigned workspace layout aims to optimize production flow and manufacturing efficiency.

Arnaud Charmetant, site manager at AkzoNobel, stated in the release that the modernization strengthens manufacturing capabilities while creating a sustainable site to accelerate advanced coating solutions.

“The investment demonstrates our continued commitment to the aerospace industry with the capacity, quality and innovation our customers need,” Charmetant said.

Project timeline and industry context

The overall development project at the Pamiers facility remains on schedule. Final construction and equipment installation are expected to conclude by the end of 2026, with an official inauguration event planned for 2027.

AirPro News analysis

The €22 million investment by AkzoNobel aligns with a broader aerospace supply chain shift toward environmentally compliant materials. As global aircraft production rates increase and maintenance sectors expand, the demand for aerospace coatings is rising concurrently. We note that the specific investment in an automatic beads mill for non-chromate coatings reflects the regulatory pressure to phase out traditional hexavalent chromium-based primers and paints. By increasing European production capacity by 50 percent, AkzoNobel is positioning its Pamiers facility to absorb this localized demand while mitigating supply chain bottlenecks for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers.

Sources: Aviation Maintenance Magazine (AkzoNobel Press Release), IPCM, ECHEMI

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

AIP Capital and Bridgepoint Group have agreed to purchase 11 CFM International LEAP-1B spare engines to support global Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft operations, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029.

Announced on July 21, 2026, during the Farnborough International Airshow, the transaction expands the investment firms’ existing aviation asset portfolio. According to a press release issued by GE Aerospace, the acquisition is designed to provide airlines, operators, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers with critical spare engine capacity.

Expanding the spare engine portfolio

The July 2026 agreement builds on a previous transaction executed in 2024, during which AIP Capital and Bridgepoint Group acquired an initial batch of 10 CFM LEAP-1B spare engines. AIP Capital and its affiliates currently manage approximately $6.6 billion in total assets.

“This order reflects another milestone in both our partnership and strategy with CFM. We are excited to continue expanding upon our successful relationship with CFM and recognize the reliability, fuel efficiency, and performance of the LEAP engine family,” said Mathew Adamo, Managing Partner at AIP Capital.

LEAP-1B fleet upgrades and operational support

CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, has delivered more than 10,000 LEAP engines across all variants to date. The manufacturer is currently implementing hardware upgrades across the global LEAP fleet to improve operational longevity.

These upgrades include a high-pressure turbine (HPT) durability kit designed to extend the engine’s time on wing. CFM International is also deploying a reverse bleed system (RBS) intended to reduce the overall maintenance burden for airline operators.

“We are proud to deepen our relationship with AIP Capital and Bridgepoint,” said Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International. “This agreement bolsters our shared mission to reduce aviation’s environmental impact while providing industry-leading reliability and exceptional service and support.”

AirPro News analysis

The acquisition of additional LEAP-1B spare engines by major aviation investment firms highlights the ongoing industry demand for operational redundancy. As airlines navigate supply chain constraints and scheduled maintenance intervals for new-generation narrowbody engines, access to a robust pool of spare powerplants is essential for maintaining schedule reliability. We view this investment as a direct response to the high utilization rates of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet and the corresponding need for MRO support capacity.

Sources: GE Aerospace