Zenith Aviation secures Honeywell Channel Partnership with major investment from OPUL

Zenith Aviation has achieved its first OEM accreditation, becoming a Honeywell Channel Partner to provide maintenance support for TFE731 turbofan engines and auxiliary power units under Honeywell’s Maintenance Service Plan. The agreement, secured under new ownership by OPUL, represents a significant investment in facilities, tooling, staff, and training. It is expected to generate additional revenue over the coming years while expanding Zenith’s approved maintenance services. This marks the largest single capability investment in Zenith’s history and positions the company more competitively in MRO market.

Until now, Zenith relied on external providers for TFE and APU work. As a Channel Partner, the company can now carry out this work directly, offering faster turnaround times, cost savings, and a more integrated service for operators. The partnership also positions Zenith within Honeywell’s global network of authorised service providers, strengthening its OEM relationships and laying the foundation for further accreditations.

Aaron Hughes, Chief Operating Officer at Zenith Aviation commented: “This is a milestone we should have reached three years ago,” said Aaron Hughes, Chief Operating Officer at Zenith Aviation. “With OPUL’s backing, we have made the investment required to expand our capability and secure the business for the long term. It has the potential to unlock millions in additional revenue while delivering better service and greater certainty for our customers and staff.”

To lead this new phase, Zenith has appointed Gary Tims as Director of Maintenance.

Tims is a current Form 4 Post Holder with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, ensuring regulatory compliance at the highest level. He brings decades of experience in aircraft maintenance leadership, with a proven record of building high-performing teams and delivering compliance excellence. Respected across the industry, Tims has longstanding relationships with OEMs including Honeywell and Bombardier, and is a familiar and trusted figure among the Zenith team.

“It’s a great time to be coming on board with Zenith,” said Tims. “This new Honeywell accreditation allows us to broaden what we can offer and keep more work in-house, which is a real benefit to our customers. I’ve worked with many of the team before, and I’m confident we can build on their strengths to move the business forward.”

This announcement underlines Zenith Aviation commitment to investing in its future under OPUL’s ownership. By combining new OEM accreditations with experienced leadership, the company is reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for operators across the UK, Europe, and globally, as it looks to expand its Part-145 service offering into the Middle East.