The American engine maker Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines (CEA), to build a large-scale maintenance factory in Shanghai.

The maintenance factory, expected to go into operation in late 2007, will make world-class CFM56 engines for aircraft with the SPA system, an advanced production management system. It will provide service to clients from China and other Asian-Pacific countries.

"The joint-stock factory is important to our future development because safeguarding flight security and lowering maintenance cost are vital to any airline company." said Luo Chaogeng, general manager of CEA.

CEA is one of the three largest airline companies in the Chinese mainland.

With about 200 aircraft flying 400 routes, including 70 international and regional air routes, CEA has built a worldwide transportation network, Luo said.

Pratt & Whitney, based in Connecticut, USA, is one of the world's major manufacturers of jet engines, gas turbine and aviation propelling system. Currently it possesses a service network of 24 major maintenance factories throughout the world.

Source: Xinhua