Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the Dubai Airshow today, Emirates will conduct MRO on the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines that power its A380 fleet from 2027 onwards.
The airline will take over the MRO work in 2027, prior to which it will build a new facility ahead of its first induction forecast.
Emirates said it will complete fan case repairs at the facility, and that Rolls-Royce will maintain module repair capability within its global network.
In addition, Emirates has extended its TotalCare service agreement for its A380s with Rolls-Royce into the 2040s.
With its plans to operate its A380 fleet in the 2040s and beyond, Emirates said it is important for the airline to build out its own engine maintenance capabilities.
“We will be working closely with the Rolls-Royce team to bring the latest engine MRO capabilities into our facilities as part of our expansion of Emirates’ Engineering Maintenance Centre (EEMC),” said Ahmed Safa, head of engineering and MRO at the airline.
“This is yet another value-added contribution to Dubai’s growing aerospace sector capabilities.”
Paul Keenan, director of commercial aviation aftermarket operations at Rolls-Royce, said the partnership is another milestone in the company’s efforts to increase its global MRO capacity and capability by 2030.
“Our global network combines a strong mix of Rolls-Royce-owned facilities, joint ventures and strategic collaborations with industry partners,” he said.
“We are delighted to welcome Emirates to that mix ahead of the new facility opening in 2027.”
Emirates is the largest operator of the A380 — the world’s largest commercial aircraft in service — with a fleet of 116 of these double-decked aircraft in its fleet.