Sharjah Airport gets engine MRO facility

A new 60 million euro (Dh287 million) facility for aircraft engine maintenance and repairing is being built at the Sharjah International Airport, officials said.

The Sharjah MRO Facility – the first of its kind in the emirate – is a joint venture between Midex Airlines and Alitalia Maintenance Systems (AMS) and is expected to be completed in six-month time.

The facility is expected to start with 15 engines and 3 APU and will reach a total of 100 engines and 50 APU by 2017 in addition to other services such as On/Off wing inspection and servicing.

The company’s projected turnover is expected to reach $20 million (Dh73.4million) in 2013 and will increase to over $120 million (Dh440.4 million) by 2017.

Dr. Issam Khairallah, President of Midex Airlines, said: “Our involvement with AMS is over three years old now and due to our satisfaction with their services we’ve decided to join efforts and to expand our cooperation into a partnership to create this new facility serving the GCC and the neighbouring countries… we’re looking forward to have the facility ready and operational before end of 2013.”

Ghanem Al Hajri, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said this project will add great value to the aviation industry and the companies operating in GCC and neighbouring countries, at the same time the region is witnessing a growth in the number of aircrafts and a huge demand for maintenance services.