Toulouse, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand presided over the signing ceremony agreement between Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and Airbus to establish a new joint venture maintenance and overhaul (MRO) facility at U-Tapao International Airport near Bangkok. The agreement was signed by Mrs. Usanee Sangsingkeo, THAI Acting President and Mr. Eric Schulz, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer; and was witnessed by Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister and Mr. Guillaume Faury, President Airbus Commercial Aircraft at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse.
The new MRO will be one of the most modern and extensive in the Asia-Pacific region, offering heavy maintenance and line services for all wide body aircraft types. The state-of-the-art facility will feature the latest digital technologies to analyze aircraft maintenance data, as well as advanced inspection techniques, including the use of drones to monitor aircraft airframes. The MRO complex will also have specialized repair shops, including for composite structures, as well as a maintenance training center offering extensive courses for technical personnel from Thailand and overseas.
THAI and Airbus have undertaken an extensive evaluation to validate the business plan for this project. THAI and Airbus aim to develop one of the most advanced and efficient aircraft maintenance centers anywhere in the world. This venture will bring significant economic benefit for THAI and will be a major driver in the development of the wider aerospace sector in Thailand. The MRO will also contribute to the success of Thailand’s new eastern economic zone. With the fleet of wide body aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region set to triple to around 4,800 aircraft over the next 20 years, the project clearly represents a sound business opportunity for THAI and Airbus.
The joint venture between Airbus and THAI will be located at U-Tapao International Airport, at the heart of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The EEC is a core part of the Thai government’s Thailand 4.0 policy, designed to develop world class innovative technology-based manufacturing and services in the country.
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