BANGKOK: Airbus & Thai Airways International (THAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate the development of a major new maintenance and overhaul (MRO) facility at U-Tapao International Airport (IATA: UTP) near Bangkok.
The MoU was signed in Bangkok on March 8 by Usanee Sangsingkeo, Acting President, Thai Airways International and Fabrice Brégier, President, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The signing was witnessed by Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Airbus says the new MRO would be one of the most modern and extensive in the Asia-Pacific region, offering line and heavy maintenance services for a wide range of aircraft types. It added that any new complex would feature the latest digital technologies to analyse aircraft maintenance data, as well as advanced inspection techniques, including the use of drones to monitor aircraft airframes.
The MRO campus would also include specialised repair shops, including a repair centre for composite structures, as well as a maintenance training centre offering extensive courses for technical personnel from Thailand and overseas.
“THAI has been studying the development of a new MRO business with several potential partners and is pleased to have been able to reach this initial agreement with Airbus,” said Usanee Sangsingkeo, Acting President, Thai Airways International. “This facility will be a showcase maintenance hub for the region and will offer its services to airlines across the region and beyond.”
