Honeywell has appointed Saudi Arabian MRO Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) as the first authorized Honeywell service center in the Middle East region. The appointment includes a global license for the 131-9 auxiliary power unit (APU) installed on Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320 aircraft.

Wholly owned by Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding, SAEI claims to be one of the largest and most experienced MROs in the Middle East and North Africa region.

As part of the 10-year agreement, SAEI, from its facility in Jeddah, will provide inspection, repair, overhaul, and upgrades for the 131-9 APU models. Owners and operators of the aircraft can now have their APUs repaired locally in the Middle East instead of sending them to facilities outside the region, Honeywell said.

“SAEI is already an important partner for us, and the company will soon become Honeywell’s first APU licensed service center for narrow-body APUs in the Middle East region,” said Mohammed Mohaisen, Honeywell president and CEO for the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Central Asia.

“This appointment extends our relationship with SAEI to better serve our customers in the region by giving them access to faster, locally accessible maintenance services," he added. "Our strategic partnership supports SAEI’s Saudi Vision 2030 objectives and is further proof of Honeywell’s commitment to localization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

SAEI began its collaboration with Honeywell in 2013. With the completion of more than 100 APU repairs, SAEI has renewed its focus on realizing localization ambitions under the Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

“I am confident that our industry-leading capabilities will provide airline owners and operators with easy access to reliable, cost-effective, and timely services, enabling them to achieve enhanced safety and efficiency while offering superior passenger connectivity and convenience,” said SAEI CEO Fahd Cynndy.