SHANGHAI: China Eastern Airlines has set up an aircraft engine maintenance joint venture in Shanghai with the Chinese unit of United Technologies Corporation (UTC).

The engine maintenance plant in Minhang district is expected to lower maintenance costs for carriers, said company officials yesterday.

Work on the new unit called Shanghai Pratt &Whitney Aircraft Engine Maintenance Co Ltd began in 2007. The unit is spread over an area of 25,555 sq m, or equivalent to about five standard US football fields.