Rolls-Royce is searching for a new partner to offer Trent engine overhaul services in Europe after SR Technics pulled out of an earlier agreement to establish a joint venture in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Asian Trent overhaul specialist Singapore Aero Engine Services (SAESL), in which the UK manufacturer is a 30% shareholder, opened its doors for business on 27 February.
R-R will carry out Trent 800 heavy maintenance for European and Middle Eastern customers at its Derby, UK, headquarters, but had planned to offer Trent 700 and 500 overhauls in Zurich as part of a deal with SR Technics to form a joint operation called Temro. However, SR Technics, which is for sale following the financial collapse of its parent Swissair Group, has pulled out of the agreement.
SR Technics says the business case for forming Temro was undermined by Swissair's decision to cancel its orders for the Trent 500-powered Airbus A340-600 and due to uncertainties over whether A340-600 customers Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic would send their engines to Zurich. The Trent 700 and larger 800 are offered for the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777, respectively.
Lufthansa Technik executive board chairman August Wilhelm Henningsen says the German company has yet to decide whether to develop an in-house Trent maintenance capability, but confirms it is still interested in a potential partnership with R-R.
Source: Flight International
