A $249 million project to expand Air New Zealand's Christchurch Engine Centre in Harewood was revealed on Friday.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was at the Orchard Rd centre for the groundbreaking ceremony. He said the 14,000 sq m expansion was a "significant investment to New Zealand’s economy".
"This project between Air New Zealand and global aviation leader Pratt & Whitney marks a significant investment to New Zealand’s economy, helps expand our aviation industrial capability, and adds 200 high-value jobs into the Canterbury region," Luxon said.
Pratt & Whitney is a world-leading aircraft engine design, manufacture and service company. The expansion will add maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities for the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine in New Zealand, with capacity for up to 140 GTF aircraft engine overhauls planned annually by 2032.
Construction of the facility expansion will start this month and the first GTF engine overhaul is expected to happen in late 2026.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said the investment was "a real vote of confidence in the Christchurch Engine Centre and our city".
"The creation of 200 new jobs is great news for our local economy and further positions Christchurch as a world-class technology and aerospace hub.
"I can’t wait to see the new facility take off."
Air New Zealand chair Dame Therese Walsh said the centre expansion would allow the airline to service its V2500 engines powering the A321ceo aircraft and PW1100G-JM GTF engines on the A320/A321neo aircraft in Aotearoa.
“The introduction of new GTF repair capability will be completed in 2026, and the Christchurch Engine Centre will maintain, repair or overhaul both the V2500 and PW1100G-JM engines for many years to come,” Walsh said.
“As our fleet of Airbus aircraft continues to grow, with another four expected to arrive over the next three years, the importance of this facility to our airline also grows allowing us to continue to deliver on our purpose of connecting Kiwis with each other and the world.”
