Photo: Courtesy of Air China

Air China said on Thursday that it has set up a joint venture named Beijing Aero Engine Services Co with UK-based Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc for engine services which will begin operations in 2026.

The announcement came at the ongoing 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services, held in Beijing. 

The new company is the first joint-venture maintenance company located on the Chinese mainland and the fourth in the world for the Trent series in the Rolls-Royce global maintenance network. 

Its establishment marks a solid step in cooperation between Air China and Rolls-Royce in the field of civil engine after-sale maintenance. The move will enrich the layout of Air China's maintenance sector and expand the scope of engine overhaul capabilities, further ensuring the flight safety of Air China's fleet, according to the airline. 

The joint venture will begin operations in 2026 and will provide maintenance, repair and operations support for the Rolls-Royce Trent 700, Trent XWB-84 and Trent 1000 engines, with plans to operate at maximum capacity by mid-2030s. Support will also be provided for annual maintenance of the 250 Trent series. 

Air China currently has all three engine types in its fleet.

The joint venture is located in the Beijing Capital International Airport Economy Demonstration Zone, with each party holding a 50-percent stake. 

Ma Chongxian, president of Air China Ltd said it aims to build the joint venture to into a world-class aero-engine maintenance company and increase the scale of the civil aircraft engine maintenance industry chain.

Air China said on its official website that the group, including its holding companies, operates 746 airplanes including Airbus and Boeing as of the end of 2021, with an average age of 8.23 years. The group operates 672 passenger routes across the world. 

Rolls-Royce powers 60 percent of China's widebody fleet, powering more than 550 aircraft in service or on order. The Trent 700 engines also power 90 percent of the country's Airbus A330 fleet and China fleet represents 20 percent of all Trent engines flying today.


Global Times