Turkish Technic, a globally leading maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider, has signed a landmark agreement with Rolls-Royce to establish a state-of-the-art, licensed engine maintenance centre at Istanbul Airport. This development is not only a major boost for Türkiye’s aviation industry but also presents significant opportunities for African carriers and aviation talent, especially from markets like South Africa.
As Turkish Technic becomes the latest member of the Rolls-Royce MRO Network, the initiative enhances Türkiye’s positioning as a global aviation services hub—perfectly situated between Europe, Asia, and Africa. For South African airlines operating Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A350s or A330neos, this means proximity to top-tier maintenance services, reducing downtime and associated costs.
The centre, due for completion by the end of 2027, will support the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97, Trent XWB-84, and Trent 7000 engines. With a planned capacity of around 200 shop visits annually, the facility is expected to be one of the largest in the region. It will also support Rolls-Royce TotalCare customers globally, including those in Southern Africa.
Commenting on this significant milestone, Prof. Ahmet Bolat, Turkish Technic Chairperson of the Board and the Executive Committee, stated: ”We are thrilled to partner with one of the world’s leading engine manufacturers. Rolls-Royce’s expertise will be instrumental in enhancing our engine maintenance operations. With our new facility expansion, we will be equipped to perform comprehensive maintenance services across a wide range of Trent engine models, allowing us to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Solidifying our position in the MRO industry, this partnership significantly expands our maintenance capabilities and empowers us to continue delivering world-class service to our customers worldwide.
Beyond infrastructure, the initiative will contribute to the development of local talent and supply chains—potentially opening training and exchange opportunities for South African engineers, technicians, and aviation students.
Commenting on the agreement, Rob Watson, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce said: “We’re significantly increasing our global MRO capacity by 2030, and today’s announcement marks an important milestone on that journey, as we add Turkish Technic to our global network of capable, flexible and resilient MRO providers to support our TotalCare customers around the world. It reinforces our strong partnership with Turkish Airlines – whose fleet of Airbus A350s will be supported by this facility – and shows confidence in Turkish Technic’s ability to realise their ambition to become a world-class provider of civil large aero engine MRO.
This development underlines the growing Türkiye–United Kingdom strategic partnership and opens the door for extended cooperation with Africa, particularly South Africa, which continues to grow its footprint in global aviation.