When TUI Travel, the European launch customer for Boeing's 787, finally takes delivery of its first aircraft, the team at Monarch Aircraft Engineering should be ready to provide maintenance support through the Goldcare option. The technical arm of London Luton-based Monarch Airlines, is currently Boeing's only airframe maintenance partner for the Goldcare program. Despite Monarch canceling its own order for six 787s in September of last year, Boeing has confirmed that Monarch will remain a Goldcare partner.

Some larger operators are confident in their ability to return a profit during another year of belt-tightening, but mixed results are more likely.

Engine MRO will outpace the total commercial aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul market growth this year, largely because engine events are more expensive and because more powerplants propelling the narrowbody fleet will need overhauls.

The fourth edition of the successful MRO Middle East is just over a week away and registraion numbers are growing.

Gulf Technics (GT), the Bahrain MRO house has secured Islamic funding for its expansion into commonent support. The $25 milliom agreement with Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) and Al-Baraka Islamic Bank (AIB) was signed as the Bahrain Airshow came to an end.

Bahrain's MRO specialist Gulf Technics has today signed a deal with Kooheji Contractors to build a state-of-the-art hangar at Bahrain International Airport.

Bahrain and the UAE have signed what was described as a “milestone agreement” for the licensing of MRO services and facilities.

AeroThrust is to set up a new aircraft engine overhaul facility in Bahrain, investing around $20m over the next three years.