[SINGAPORE] The strong growth of Asia-Pacific’s (Apac) aviation sector “presents tremendous opportunity” for the region’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry, said Nakul Gupta, GE Aerospace vice-president of sales and general manager for Asia-Pacific.
He was giving a keynote speech at a roundtable on “Advancing MRO for a Resilient Aerospace Industry in Asia-Pacific” on Sep 3, hosted by The Business Times and presented by aircraft engine manufacturer and system provider GE Aerospace.
Gupta noted that Apac is among the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, and is set to become one of the largest in terms of passenger traffic in the next 15 years.
The region’s fleet size is expected to grow about 4 per cent annually – faster than the global rate of nearly 3 per cent – to reach over 6,000 aircraft in service, he added.
Regional governments are also investing in new airports and expanding existing ones.
“All this growth in Apac presents tremendous opportunity, but also a great responsibility for all of us in the industry to ensure aviation remains safe, efficient, reliable, and advances the industry’s sustainability goals,” Gupta said.
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The MRO industry helps to ensure the safety, efficiency and reliability of flights. Inspections and repairs keep aircraft safe to fly; scheduled maintenance sustains engine performance; and spare parts and repair pipelines keep fleets available.
Driving innovation and collaboration
GE Aerospace’s engines power three out of every four flights in the world, said Gupta.
On the sustainability front, the company has introduced new generation engines that are 10 to 15 per cent more fuel-efficient.
Through CFM International, its joint venture with Safran Aircraft Engines, GE Aerospace is developing propulsion technology that aims to improve fuel efficiency by more than 20 per cent compared to engines today.
In Apac, the company has more than 3,800 engines and 110 clients across 25 countries, and is “ready to support what comes next” for the region’s aviation industry.
GE Aerospace’s regional MRO business is working closely with government agencies, airlines and other industry partners to “strengthen capabilities and tackle ongoing challenges,” said Gupta.
This spirit of collaboration – among original equipment manufacturers, MRO providers, regulators and carriers – will enable aviation to “grow in a way that is safe, efficient, and more sustainable for decades to come”, he said.
