MRO providers represent a growing source of competition for established engine lessors, a fact underlined by Total Engine Asset Management’s move to grow its portfolio of spare engines for rent.

The coronavirus outbreak and trade tensions with the US may mean that China has sunk down the list of attractive business destinations for the time being, but Western MRO companies remain committed to a country where many have already accumulated substantial experience.

Engine companies’ position at the forefront of technological change in the MRO sector has been highlighted by Pratt & Whitney’s latest revelations about its aftermarket operations in Asia.