MRO AND SUPPLY CHAIN
Gulf engine capacity expands as GTF queues stretch regional operators
Sanad and Etihad Engineering are adding test and overhaul capacity into a shortage that has grounded aircraft across Asia and Africa.
Aerospace Garage desk
Engine shop visit queues remain the binding constraint on fleet availability across Asia and Africa, and Gulf providers are adding capacity into that shortage. Test cell and overhaul investment at Abu Dhabi and Jeddah is aimed squarely at operators who currently wait months for a slot.
The commercial position is strong. Gulf shops sit within reasonable ferry range of South Asian, African and Central Asian operators, hold the approvals, and can fund capacity that individual carriers cannot.
The dependency is on OEM licensing. Engine overhaul scope is granted, not assumed, and the manufacturers control how widely capability spreads — which is why some regional shops remain limited to lighter work.
Our read: watch which specific engine variants each shop is licensed for. Scope breadth, not hangar count, determines who actually absorbs the queue.
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