OREANDA-NEWS. Boeing [NYSE: BA] and China Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the development of the airline’s capabilities to serve the growing maintenance, repair and overhaul market in Asia.

Boeing anticipates providing technical support and maintenance training to China Airlines to enhance its ability to service Boeing products.

In addition, Boeing intends to work closely with China Airlines to qualify it as an approved Boeing supplier, which will enable the airline to bid for work on Boeing’s wide-ranging products and services.

“We are pleased to further extend our partnership with The Boeing Company,” said Ho Nuan-Hsuan, Chairman, China Airlines. “This MOU with Boeing provides a platform that will allow us to enhance the world-class capabilities of China Airlines Group. We look forward to contributing to the steady growth of commercial aviation in Taiwan, as well as the rest of Asia.”

With a growing number of airlines in the Asia-Pacific region selecting Boeing airplanes, China Airlines will have the opportunity to become a qualified Boeing Global Fleet Care service provider in Asia. In addition, Boeing aims to aid China Airlines’ qualification as a potential Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) conversion site, as well as explore training opportunities to develop the airline’s capability as an airframe modification supplier for Boeing’s airplanes.

“China Airlines has been a very important partner to Boeing for more than five decades and this mutually beneficial collaboration will further enhance their capabilities in maintenance and engineering,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This relationship will allow China Airlines to develop and deliver world-class maintenance service to global airline customers, while also adding value to Boeing’s network of global supplier partners.”