Boeing has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Airlines to enhance the airline’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in the Asian market.

As part of the new deal, Boeing aims to provide technical support and maintenance training to China Airlines to improve its ability to service its products.

Boeing also plans to work with the airline to qualify it as an approved parts supplier, allowing the latter to bid for work on its multiple products and services.

The MoU is also expected to help China Airlines to become a qualified Boeing Global Fleet Care service provider in Asia.

“This relationship will allow China Airlines to develop and deliver world-class maintenance service to global airline customers, while also adding value to Boeing’s network of global supplier partners.”

In addition, Boeing seeks to assist China Airlines’ qualification as a potential Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) conversion site. The aircraft manufacturer also intends to explore training opportunities to develop the airline’s capability as an airframe modification supplier for its aircraft.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes sales and marketing senior vice-president Ihssane Mounir said: “China Airlines has been a very important partner to Boeing for more than five decades and this mutually beneficial collaboration will further enhance their capabilities in maintenance and engineering.

“This relationship will allow China Airlines to develop and deliver world-class maintenance service to global airline customers, while also adding value to Boeing’s network of global supplier partners.”

In a separate development, Boeing has partnered with FedEx Express to perform the next phase of test flights under the ecoDemonstrator programme.

Scheduled to begin next year, the test will feature a new Boeing 777 Freighter and test emerging technologies such as propulsion advancements and flight deck innovations.

Image: Boeing corporate offices. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.