Boeing and China Airlines have signed a deal to develop the Taiwanese airline’s capabilities to serve the growing maintenance, repair and overhaul market in Asia. Under a memorandum of agreement the two companies signed this week, Boeing anticipates providing technical support and maintenance training to increase the Taiwanese airline's ability to service Boeing products in the jet maker's fastest growing market. With nearly 40% of the future market demand for commercial airplanes coming from the Asia-Pacific region, Boeing said its collaboration with China Airlines will help its global airline customers, while also contributing to Taiwan’s growing commercial aviation industry. “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,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes said. Boeing said it also intends to work closely with China Airlines to qualify the carrier as an approved Boeing supplier. That will enable the airline to bid for work on Boeing’s wide-ranging products and services. Next, China Airlines will also have the opportunity to become a qualified Boeing Global Fleet Care service provider in Asia.<br/>