Global technology major Honeywell has appointed Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), a world-class full-service maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) organization, to be the first authorized Honeywell service center in the Middle East region with a global license for the 131-9 Auxiliary Power Units (APU) models installed on Boeing 737 Next Generation and Airbus A320 aircraft series.

 

A wholly-owned unit of Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding Company, SAEI is one of the largest and most experienced MROs in the Middle East and North Africa region.

 

As part of the 10-year agreement, SAEI, from its facility in Jeddah, will provide inspection, repair, overhaul and upgrades for the 131-9 APU models, said the statement from Honeywell. 

 

Owners and operators of these aircraft can now repair their APUs locally in the Middle East, instead of sending them to facilities outside the region, it stated. 

 

"SAEI is already an important partner for us, and the company will soon become Honeywell’s first APU licensed service center for narrow body APUs in the Middle East region," remarked Mohammed Mohaisen, president and CEO, Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Central Asia, Honeywell. 

 

"This appointment extends our relationship with SAEI to better serve our customers in the region by giving them access to faster, locally accessible maintenance services. Our strategic partnership supports SAEI’s Saudi Vision 2030 objectives and is further proof of Honeywell’s commitment to localization in the kingdom," he added.

 

Saudi Arabian Airlines Director General Engineer Ibrahim Alomar said: "The collaboration between SAEI and Honeywell to provide authorised service in Saudi Arabia will be hailed by aircraft owners and operators in the Mena region as a promising development."

 

"At Saudia, we are delighted that SAEI has taken the lead in bringing the advanced technology and know-how to Saudi Arabia, enabling easier and faster access to the repair and overhaul of APUs in the region. We hope the move will be considered a huge leap in the Kingdom’s drive to increase local content in line with Vision 2030 goals," he added.

 

CEO Captain Fahd Hamzh Cynndy expressed delight at being appointed as the first authorised global Honeywell service center in the Middle East region for the 131-9 APUs. 

 

"We are proud of our strengthening relationship with Honeywell and confident that our industry-leading capabilities will provide airline owners and operators with easy access to reliable, cost-effective and timely services, enabling them to achieve enhanced safety and efficiency while offering superior passenger connectivity and convenience," stated Cynndy.

 

Ryan Lees, president, EMEAI Aftermarket, Honeywell Aerospace, said the group's collaboration with SAEI started in 2013, and this new appointment further strengthens its relationship. 

 

"This appointment is a win for our customers as SAEI is one of the largest and most experienced MROs in the Mena region. Our customers will benefit from being able to repair their APUs locally in the Middle East, instead of sending them to facilities outside the region," he stated. 

 

"This will significantly reduce aircraft downtime, saving them time and money," he added.-TradeArabia News Service