Pratt & Whitney and China Eastern to Create CFM56 Overhaul Center

EAST HARTFORD , Conn., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- China Eastern Airlines and Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE: UTX),have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a major aircraft engine overhaul joint venture in Shanghai.

The joint venture will establish a world-class engine overhaul shop for CFM56 engines, which power the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft. The overhaul shop's in-depth repair capabilities, test cell and state of the art information technology system will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services to airline customers in China and the Asia Pacific region, starting in 2007.

"We are excited about working with Pratt & Whitney on such a strategic venture for both of our companies," said President Luo Chaogeng of ChinaEastern Airlines. "As an airline our utmost priorities are reducing maintenance costs and supporting our fleet operation. I am confident that this joint venture will significantly help China Eastern Airlines and other airlines in the region achieve these objectives."

"We are thrilled to partner with China Eastern Airlines, a prominent airline with tremendous growth momentum and a quality service culture," said Louis R. Chenevert, Pratt & Whitney president. "This joint venture willfurther P&W's commitment to China and strengthen our Global Service Partnersbusiness. Like China Eastern, P&W focuses on quality services to customers, and we are growing our service business aggressively through partnership with strong airlines such as China Eastern."

Global Service Partners, Pratt & Whitney's engine services business, is an industry leader in customer solutions and service excellence. It has more than 500 aviation customers served by a worldwide network of 24 overhaul and repair facilities capable of servicing all Pratt & Whitney engines, as well as the V2500 and CFM56. In addition to overhaul and repair services, customers count on Global Service Partners to provide on-wing repair services, advanced engine monitoring and diagnostics, competitive engine lease programs andcustom engine service programs.

China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd., based in Shanghai, is one of the three larger airlines in China's civil aviation industry. China Eastern was established in June 1988 with subsidiaries and branches in Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei, Tianjin, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Ningbo. China Eastern is the holding company of China Cargo Limited, China Eastern Jiangsu Limited, and China Eastern Wuhan Limited. Its fleet includes 168 wide body and medium size aircraft. China Eastern operates more than 210 international and domestic routes to 81 cities. It has formed a hub and spoke network centering on Shanghai, radiating across the whole country and linking to Asia and Australia, Europe and the United States. In 1997, the airline successfully transformed into a listing company in New York, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. It was also honored with the Five Star Diamond Award given by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences in 2001.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney