Air Zealand and Ansett Australia have formed a maintenance company, merging the carriers' respective Auckland and Melbourne-based facilities. The joint venture, dubbed Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand Engineering, will offer maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, and is forecast to have an equity value of A$1 billion ($625 million). According to the partnership, MRO business will be shared equally, with each site "specialising in particular product lines". Third party work is expected to more than double within five years. AlliedSignal vice- president Bill Jacobson has been appointed chief executive of the new venture.
Source: Flight International
