Collins Aerospace, a business unit of RTX (NYSE: RTX), and Etihad Engineering have announced a new joint venture to provide nacelle maintenance, repair, and overhaul services in Abu Dhabi.
The two companies made the announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow, signaling a significant expansion of MRO capabilities across the Middle East aviation sector.
The joint venture will deliver nacelle and thrust reverser maintenance solutions, along with asset support services, for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 widebody fleets serving regional and international carriers.
As part of the agreement, Collins Aerospace will relocate its existing UAE nacelle operations to Etihad Engineering’s 550,000-square-meter aviation maintenance centre of excellence near Zayed International Airport.
The move will effectively double Collins’ current nacelle MRO footprint in the Middle East, with the new 3,250-square-meter facility expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2027.
PJ Titone, vice president and general manager of Advanced Structures for Collins Aerospace, said: “By co-locating with Etihad Engineering’s rapidly expanding heavy maintenance facility, Collins can deliver enhanced service levels and technical expertise to meet the demand of the Middle East region’s fast growing aviation market.”
Titone added that the 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.”
Etihad Engineering is part of the Abu Dhabi Aviation group of companies and ranks among the world’s leading aircraft MRO service providers, with a workforce of more than 2,000 professionals from over 50 nations.
Mahmood Al Hameli, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Aviation, said the new capability “aligns with our Group’s long-term commitment to organic growth through capability enhancement and the development of local expertise.”
Daniel Hoffmann, CEO of Etihad Engineering, described the partnership as strengthening the company’s value proposition by adding “high-quality nacelle maintenance and thrust reverser MRO services to our comprehensive existing portfolio for our customers from all over the world.”
RTX, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, employs more than 180,000 people globally and reported 2025 sales of more than $88 billion across its aerospace and defense portfolio.
The joint venture will operate as part of Collins’ aerostructures aftermarket network, supported by a dedicated global team positioned to address growing widebody fleet demand across the region.
