Why is the company building a fourth hangar?

EGAT is growing in step with the requirements from its more than 40 airline partners, which have been renewing their fleets. Along with some of the renewals come fleet expansions. EGAT has been asked to be part of their renewal and expansion. We remain focused on aircraft service delivery solutions to enable them to thrive.

What new capability does EGAT plan to add to its repertoire in terms of airframe heavy maintenance and engine overhaul?

In terms of the airframe heavy maintenance (HMV), EGAT will be building capability on the Boeing 787, 747-8 and A380. EGAT's airline partners are requesting that EGAT participate in their fleet renewal activities, to provide services on new airframes. EGAT is a Boeing-approved HMV service provider on both the 787 and the 747-8 under the Boeing Edge program.

On engine maintenance, EGAT is working with GE to understand how to best support EVA Air and GE in their supply chain for servicing the next generation of engines, such as the GEnx and Leap X.

How has your interior retrofit shop been performing? Has business been good?

Since 2009, five airlines have approached EGAT with interior retrofit requests. These include seat and inflight entertainment system upgrades, and passenger layout configuration changes. EGAT has been able to deliver well on its interior retrofit commitments to each of them, with timely deliveries to their planned schedules.

The retrofitting activities are driven primarily by unexpected extensions to aging fleets and interiors due to slower than expected new aircraft deliveries by Airbus and Boeing.

The interior retrofit shop has been rather busy of late with its parent EVA Air's cabin interior upgrade program for its Premium Laurel business-class product offering with flat-bed modular seats.

How does the relationship with your sister company EVA Air work? How independent are you?