‍DUBAI — Emirates (EK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rolls-Royce enabling it to carry out MRO services on the engines of the A380 aircraft in its fleet.  

Under the agreement, signed yesterday at the Dubai Airshow 2025, EK will perform Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) for the Trent 900 engines powering its own A380 fleet from 2027. 

“With Emirates’ plans to continue operating our Airbus A380 fleet into the 2040s, we wanted to secure our own engine maintenance capabilities. We are pleased to sign this agreement with Rolls-Royce, which further strengthens our partnership. We will be working closely with their team to bring the latest engine MRO capabilities into our facilities as part of our expansion of Emirates’ Engineering Maintenance Centre (EEMC). This is yet another value-added contribution to Dubai’s growing aerospace sector capabilities.” Ahmed Safa, Emirates’ Head of Engineering and MRO, said.

A380 Engine MRO Services

Emirates will build a new facility with the first induction forecast from 2027. The Dubai-based (DXB) airline will complete fan case repairs at the facility, and Rolls-Royce will maintain module repair capability within the global network.

This agreement is indeed significant since the Airbus A380 is a strategic aircraft for EK. Furthermore, the airline has also extended the TotalCare service agreement with Rolls-Royce for its A380s into the 2040s. 

“Today’s announcement marks another milestone in our journey to increase our global MRO capacity and capability significantly by 2030. Our global network combines a strong mix of Rolls-Royce-owned facilities, joint ventures, and strategic collaborations with industry partners. We are delighted to welcome Emirates to that mix ahead of the new facility opening in 2027." Paul Keenan, Director - Commercial Aviation Aftermarket Operations, Rolls-Royce, said.

Emirates is the largest operator of the Airbus A380. The aircraft is the world’s largest commercial aircraft in service, with 116 of these in the EK fleet. EK's A380 experience remains highly sought after by travellrs worldwide due to its unrivaled comfort and signature cabin features and services.

Stay tuned to Airways for exclusive coverage from our team on the grounds at the Dubai Airshow 2025 #DAS2025.