Embraer opens P&W repair hub as demand for engine maintenance rockets

Brazilian planemaker Embraer on Thursday opened a maintenance hub for Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines in Portugal, which it expects to bring in an additional E600m in revenues per year once fully operational. The move comes amid surging demand for aircraft maintenance as airlines and manufacturers struggle with supply chain snags in the wake of the pandemic and more frequent engine repairs. The P&W-authorized maintenance facility at Embraer's OGMA subsidiary near Lisbon will be able to overhaul P&W engines that power jets made both by the Brazilian firm and larger peer Airbus. P&W, part of RTX Corp, has struggled since last year with a rare powder metal defect affecting mainly the Airbus A320neo jet, which led it to call for accelerated inspections that airlines say can take up to almost a year to complete. "Demand is high. All shops in the world have been full," the head of Embraer's Services & Support unit, Carlos Naufel, told Reuters. "The first engines we are receiving are from European airlines, but going forward they could come from anywhere." Consultancy Bain said in a report last week that airlines are facing their longest ever waits for engine maintenance, with demand likely to peak in 2026, constraining carriers' growth and adding costs.<br/>