Middle Eastern carriers are thriving in the aerospace market and are implementing ambitious fleet renewal and expansion programmes. This growth is backed by substantial cash reserves, air transport liberalisation efforts and highly effective business strategies focusing on long-haul connecting air traffic. Consequently, demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in the region is set to double in the next six years.

Frost & Sullivan finds that the Middle Eastern Airframe and Engine MRO Markets earned revenues of $1.79 billion in 2005 and estimates this to reach $3.31 billion in 2012.

Overseas MRO suppliers have identified Middle East's potential and are considering market entry through partnerships, joint ventures and subsidiaries. Another clever and attractive option is the acquisition of former state-owned and airline-affiliated MRO suppliers, which will provide the entrants an initial captive business.

"Influenced by the proliferation of low-cost carriers and the privatisation of former airline-affiliated Middle Eastern MROs, maintenance outsourcing will become widespread," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Diogenis Papiomytis. "Middle Eastern and international MRO suppliers should assess the market's potential and identify the needs of airlines, being fully aware that any investment in infrastructure will have a lead time of one to two years."

Once suppliers estimate the costs of the proposed investments, they can integrate these costs into the business proposal for new facilities and capabilities. Such forethought will be especially useful in handling the hectic pace of business in the wake of air travel boom in the Middle East.

Air travel is intensifying in the region because of the increasing popularity of Middle Eastern airports as hubs for connecting flights. As a result, all companies participating in the air transport industry are experiencing a windfall. There is a corresponding rise in demand for MRO services in the Middle East - higher than the expected demand in any other region.

"MRO suppliers' revenue generation opportunities are primarily expected to stem from the line maintenance market and subsequently, across all airframe and engine MRO market segments," notes Mr. Papiomytis.

To capitalise on these opportunities, regional MRO suppliers are restructuring their operations. They are working on building the capacities and capabilities required to service Middle East's future aircraft fleet.

Many airline-affiliated MRO suppliers are waking up to the benefits of commercialisation and privatisation to reduce their dependence on a single carrier. Suppliers need to develop detailed business plans regarding the required investments and assess all future market opportunities and risks.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the Middle Eastern Airframe and Engine MRO Markets, then send an e-mail to Srividhya Parthasarathy- Corporate Communications.

The Middle Eastern Airframe and Engine MRO Markets is part of the Aerospace and Defence Subscription which also includes research in the following markets: European Airframe and Engine MRO Markets, African Airframe and Engine MRO Markets and, Russia/CIS Airframe and Engine MRO Markets. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics.List of key industry participants: 1time, Aeronexus, Air Algerie, Air Arabia, Air Madagascar, Air Malawi Maintenance, Air Mauritius, Air Namibia, Air Seychelles, Air Tanzania, Air Zimbabwe, Alsalam Aircraft, Arabasco, Arkia Israeli Airlines Maintenance, Bedek Aviation Group, Comair, Denel Aviation, EADS Sogerma Tunisie, East African, Egyptair Maintenance, El Al Tech, Emirates Engineering, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, GAMCO, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Airlines, JALCO, Jazeera Airways, JORAMCO, Jordan Aviation, Karthago Airlines, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airways, Libyan Arab Airlines, MASCO, MEA, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SAFAIR, Saudi Arabian, Snecma Morocco, South African Airways, South African Airways Technical, Sudan Airways, Syrianair, Tunisair, Virgin Nigeria, Volga Dnepr Gulf, Yemenia

List of keywords in this press release: airframe, engine, maintenance, repair, overhaul, MRO, Middle Eastern, airframe line, heavy maintenance, engine overhaul, component repair, modifications, research, information, market, trends, technology, service, forecast, market share