ATR and Ethiopian Airlines Group Sign Joint Plan to Enhance Aircraft Maintenance
Ethiopian MRO’s facilities are set to welcome the first ATR aircraft by Q2 2025
On December 12, 2024, ATR—regional aircraft manufacturer—and Ethiopian Airlines Group signed a Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCAP) to improve maintenance capabilities for ATR -500 and -600 aircraft across Africa and the Middle East.
ATR highlighted that this agreement builds upon a letter of intent (LOI) signed in July 2024.
The key areas of focus include extending Ethiopian MRO’s (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) capabilities for ATR -500 and -600 aircraft, localising spares provision, fostering training collaborations between the ATR Training Centre and the ET Aviation University, and establishing international educational partnerships for postgraduate programs.
Investments and Training
The JCAP paves the way for Ethiopian MRO to make initial investments in essential components such as tooling, ground support equipment, engineer and staff training, and access to technical publications.
In a statement by ATR, “Ethiopian MRO aims to secure local certifications and EASA approvals, ensuring seamless support for future customers in aircraft maintenance requirements.”
Dedicated Support and Future Operations
To further support Ethiopian MRO, ATR will assign a Regional Field Support Representative (RFSR) based in Addis Ababa.
According to ATR, Ethiopian MRO’s facilities are expected to welcome the first ATR aircraft by Q2 2025, marking a tangible progression towards operationalising this partnership.
