Asia Will Be Key to Future of MRO Industry.

The bright spot for the aviation industry continues to be in Asia, with China, in particular, leading the way in new airplane deliveries and economic growth. Boeing Co. forecasts continuous growth for the Chinese aviation market and predicts the country will need more than 1,900 new jet airplanes worth $165 billion during the next 20 years. That's good news for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market because larger fleets, more routes and a greater number of passengers only can help an industry that has seen its global venues decline by more than 14% since 2001. So, too, it is good news that the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in Asia has subsided and that major combat in Iraq is over, both of which significantly reduced passenger load factors for Asian carriers. A variety of senior maintenance executives from Asian airlines and maintenance providers will examine those issues later this year at Aviation Week's MRO Asia Conference & Exhibition, which will be held November 11-13 in Bangkok at the Thailand Intercontinental Hotel.