This groundbreaking development not only boosts Türkiye’s aviation industry but also provides remarkable opportunities for African carriers, especially those with fleets powered by Rolls-Royce engines. South African airlines operating Airbus A350s or A330neos will benefit from proximity to high-caliber maintenance services, reducing both downtime and costs.
Expected to support around 200 engine visits annually, the new maintenance hub will cater to the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97, Trent XWB-84, and Trent 7000 engines. With its substantial capacity, the facility will be one of the largest in the region and will also offer services to Rolls-Royce TotalCare customers, including those in Southern Africa.
Prof. Ahmet Bolat, Chairperson of Turkish Technic, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, citing it as a pivotal step for enhancing maintenance operations and expanding Turkish Technic’s global presence in the MRO industry.
Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, stated: “We’re significantly increasing our global MRO capacity by 2030, and today’s announcement marks an essential milestone. It reinforces our strong partnership with Turkish Airlines and showcases confidence in Turkish Technic’s ambitious goals to become a world-class MRO provider for civil large aero engines.”
The initiative will also foster local talent development and supply chains, offering training and exchange opportunities for engineers and aviation students from South Africa. This collaboration underscores the strategic partnership between Türkiye and the United Kingdom while enhancing cooperation with the African continent.
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