Lufthansa Technik, Sanad Collaborate on Middle East MRO Digitalization

The Middle East business of Lufthansa Technik plans to partner with Abu Dhabi-based Sanad to work on strategies related to the digitalization of maintenance strategies.

The agreement was announced at the Dubai Air Show this week and will see Lufthansa Technik Middle East unite with Mubadala-owned Sanad to invest in the research and development of digital capabilities including artificial intelligence and virtual reality. 

Both companies aim to develop and implement digital solutions across their maintenance processes with the aim of reducing turnaround times and costs long-term. 

“Our collaboration with Lufthansa Technik has identified common areas of improvement across MRO processes, and this agreement will seek to address these by reducing turnaround times,” says Mansoor Janahi, deputy group CEO at Sanad.

Ziad al Hazmi, CEO of Dubai-based Lufthansa Technik Middle East, adds: “In the expected return of the MRO business to post-COVID growth, digitalization will play a decisive role.” He expects the cooperation to not only improve the businesses’ competitiveness, but to open up new possibilities and capabilities for other MROs in the Middle East.

Over time, al Hazmi sees Lufthansa Technik Middle East digitalizing MRO processes and eliminating redundant ones, along with regulatory approvals for remote inspection that will ultimately lead to a timelier exchange of information.