Located in the heart of one of Asia's most dynamic aviation clusters, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai has grown into China's market leader for commercial aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, known as MRO.
As a joint venture between MTU Aero Engines and China Southern Airlines, where each holds a 50 percent stake, the company represents more than two decades of close cooperation, technological progress and shared ambition.
What started in 2001 with a vision to build a reliable MRO foothold in China has since evolved into one of the world's fastest-growing centers for narrow-body aircraft engine maintenance.
Today, the joint venture operates two advanced facilities in Zhuhai, a city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, offering a combined technical capacity of more than 700 shop visits per year, making MTU Maintenance Zhuhai one of the largest MRO operations worldwide.
Shared vision
The partnership between MTU and China Southern Airlines is one of the most successful collaborations in China's aviation industry.
China Southern Airlines, the country's largest airline group, brings not only scale but an in-depth understanding of regional requirements, regulatory frameworks, and customer needs.
MTU contributes more than 90 years of aero-engine experience, along with over 45 years of MRO specialization and a global team of over 13,000 engine experts.
As a part of the MTU Aero Engines group, MTU Maintenance is the world leader in tailor-made MRO services, integrated leasing and asset management. It combines cutting-edge maintenance services with in-depth market understanding to provide customers with optimal aftermarket solutions for more than 30 engine models — the industry's largest portfolio, according to the company.
With locations in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia, as well as capabilities for on-site and near-wing services, MTU Maintenance and its more than 7,000 engine experts turn their passion for engines into top-quality performance and one-of-a-kind customer value, said a company statement.
This complementary expertise of its shareholders has allowed MTU Maintenance Zhuhai to establish itself as a trusted, high-performance MRO provider serving airlines across China, Asia and beyond. The joint venture agreement was extended in 2018 through 2050, underscoring the long-term commitment of both partners to China's growing aviation market.
Gert Wagner, president and CEO of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, emphasizes the significance of this partnership: "Our collaboration with China Southern Airlines is the foundation of our success. The trust and technical competence we share allow us to deliver world-class engine MRO services while supporting the long-term development of China's aviation industry."
Balanced portfolio
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai focuses on the most widely used narrow-body engine types in global and regional fleets. Its portfolio covers CFM International engines — the CFM56-5B, CFM56-7B, LEAP-1A, and LEAP-1B — as well as the IAE V2500-A5 and the PW1100G-JM from Pratt & Whitney's GTF engine family.
This balanced mix supports both legacy fleets and next-generation aircraft, ensuring stable, long-term demand for MRO services.
With over 5,000 completed shop visits since its inception, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai has achieved remarkable throughput improvements. The most recent 1,000-engine milestone was reached in under two years — faster than any previous period — a result made possible by targeted training initiatives, process optimization, and additional capacity provided by the new Jinwan facility, its second facility in Zhuhai.
Advantageous location
Both facilities located in Zhuhai benefit from efficient customs procedures, bonded goods policies and the absence of import restrictions. These special advantages help reduce turnaround times — one of the most critical key performance indicators for airline customers — and enable smooth logistics for international operations.
Among all cities in the Greater Bay Area, Zhuhai's geographic position strengthens its appeal. Located within Asia's aviation industry hub, international airports such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Macao are all within a two-hour radius, allowing rapid connections and efficient customer support.
The region also offers a highly skilled workforce, supported by a fast-growing economy and government backing for high-technology industries.
Jinwan facility
To keep pace with market growth — especially among airlines expanding their Airbus A320neo fleets — the joint venture opened its second facility in March 2025 in Jinwan, just 20 kilometers from the original site. This new facility specializes in the PW1100G-JM, representing one of the aviation sector's most advanced engines.
The Jinwan site currently supports an annual capacity of up to 260 engine shop visits, employs around 300 highly trained specialists, and is expected to grow to 600 employees as demand increases.
With more than 30,000 square meters of modern workspace — including disassembly and assembly lines, parts-cleaning areas, inspection zones, and a second state-of-the-art test cell — this facility significantly expands MTU Maintenance Zhuhai's ability to serve modern fleets.
"Building and ramping up a facility of this scale in such a short time was only possible through outstanding cooperation with our partner, China Southern Airlines. Their operational experience and strategic support were essential throughout the entire process," Wagner said.
Technology, capabilities
The combined capabilities of both facilities cover the full spectrum of MRO services required for modern narrow-body engines — including CNC machining, grinding, milling and drilling; advanced inspection technologies such as immersion ultrasonic, eddy current and phased array ultrasonic tests; electrochemical stripping, heat treatment, plasma and high-velocity oxygen fuel coating, vacuum brazing, and other specialized repair processes — just to name a few.
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai also operates one of the world's largest and most advanced test cells, enabling full-thrust engine testing under controlled conditions with high precision and reliability.
Talent development
Highly qualified employees are the backbone of the company's operational excellence.
In 2023, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai opened a dedicated training center capable of educating up to 100 mechanics per year, combining classroom instruction with hands-on training inside the workshops and across the global MTU network. Its talent development model integrates international best practices with local educational partnerships, including cooperation with aviation universities.
With its dual facility setup, expanding engine portfolio and long-term joint venture framework, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai is well-positioned to become the world's largest MRO provider for narrow-body engines.
To achieve this, the company is focused on delivering high-quality, safe and cost-efficient engine maintenance solutions while continuing to innovate and strengthen its workforce.
The partnership between MTU and China Southern Airlines will continue to play a central role in this journey. As global fleet growth accelerates and next-generation engines become the new standard, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai said it is set to remain a pillar of Asia's aviation infrastructure for decades to come.
