Pratt & Whitney together with Air New Zealand, held a ground-breaking ceremony for a US$150 million expansion of its Christchurch Engine Centre, adding 14,000 m² to the facility. This expansion will introduce maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for Pratt & Whitney's GTF™ engine in New Zealand, with an anticipated annual capacity of up to 140 GTF engine overhauls by 2032.
Construction on the expanded facility begins this month, with the first GTF engine overhaul scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Originally established in 1948 by Air New Zealand, the Christchurch Engine Centre has been a joint venture with Pratt & Whitney since 2001, initially specialising in the MRO of JT8D and later V2500 engines. Today, the centre employs over 400 skilled workers and has completed more than 1,500 V2500 engine overhauls.
“This project between Air New Zealand and global aviation leader Pratt & Whitney represents a substantial investment in New Zealand's economy, enhances our aviation capabilities and introduces 200 high-value jobs in the Canterbury region,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Shane Eddy, President of Pratt & Whitney, highlighted the strategic importance of the expansion, noting, “The Christchurch Engine Centre has a strong track record of quality and performance, supported by a skilled workforce. With the Asia-Pacific region set to experience the fastest aviation growth over the next 20 years, it's crucial for us to invest here and to work with Air New Zealand in expanding our GTF MRO network to meet the needs of the growing fleet.”
