Sanad sells first rebuilt Trent 700 engine to China's APALG in landmark Asia-Pacific expansion deal
Why It MattersThe deal signals engine MRO providers deepening ties with Asia-Pacific lessors as the region's aviation services market is forecast to expand sharply through 2044.
Abu Dhabi-based engine services group Sanad has signed an agreement with Asia Pacific Aviation Leasing Group (APALG) covering the sale of Sanad's first fully rebuilt Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engine, marking Sanad Asset Management's first transaction with a customer in China. The agreement was signed at MRO Asia-Pacific in Singapore by Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad, and Dr. Hongwei Zhao, Chairman and CEO of APALG. The engine was acquired and rebuilt using Sanad's MRO capabilities at its Abu Dhabi facilities.
Sanad is the world's largest independent Trent 700 MRO provider and has been a Rolls-Royce Authorized Maintenance Centre since 2013. The Trent 700 powers approximately two-thirds of the global Airbus A330 fleet. Beyond the initial engine sale, the agreement establishes a framework for broader collaboration between Sanad and APALG across asset management, MRO services, and aftermarket solutions.
Sanad's Asset Management strategy was launched in November 2025, and the company holds strategic partnerships with Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, GE Aerospace, and Safran. Airbus forecasts aviation services demand across Asia-Pacific, including China and India, to grow at a compound annual rate of 5.2% through 2044, reaching US$138.7 billion, with the region projected to require 19,560 new passenger aircraft over the next 20 years, representing 46% of global demand. Mansoor Janahi said the transaction marks "the beginning of what we see as a long-term relationship with APALG," while Dr. Hongwei Zhao said Sanad's "deep technical expertise and established Trent 700 capabilities made them a natural partner for APALG."
