RTX’s Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand are to expand their Christchurch Engine Center.
The expansion, which is estimated to cost $150 million, was announced during a ground-breaking ceremony at the Christchurch facility.
The 14,000 square meter expansion will add maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine in New Zealand, with capacity for up to 140 GTF engine overhauls planned annually by 2032.
Construction of the facility expansion is set to commence in November 2024, and the first GTF engine overhaul is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
📰 NEWS: Pratt & Whitney and @FlyAirNZ announce expansion at Christchurch Engine Centre. More: pic.twitter.com/AFafXEeUne
— RTX (@RTX_News) November 8, 2024
“This project between Air New Zealand and global aviation leader Pratt & Whitney marks a significant investment to New Zealand’s economy, helps expand our aviation industrial capability, and adds 200 high value jobs into the Canterbury region,” said Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who was present at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“The Christchurch Engine Centre has a proven track record of delivering exceptional performance and quality with a highly capable workforce,” Shane Eddy, President, Pratt & Whitney said in a statement.
“With the Asia-Pacific region projected to experience the highest aviation growth globally over the next 20 years, it is a strategic imperative for us to invest here and partner with Air New Zealand as we continue to expand the GTF MRO network in support of the growing fleet,” Eddy added.
Air New Zealand Chair Dame Therese Walsh stated that the 14,000 square meter expansion will allow the airline to service the V2500 engines powering its A321ceo aircraft and PW1100G-JM GTF engines on the A320/A321neo aircraft in Aotearoa.
The Christchurch Engine Centre was founded in 1948 by Air New Zealand.
In 2001, the carrier partnered with Pratt & Whitney to develop the joint venture, focusing on the maintenance, repair and overhaul of JT8D engines, later followed by V2500s.