Maintenance, repair and overhaul firms in China are expanding by opening new hangars and capability.
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering (HAECO) is opening its third hangar on 25 September and is starting a new joint venture in China, says HAECO general manager of marketing, Albert Leung.
HAECO's third hangar is a two-bay 747 hangar, he adds.
The company is also expanding by opening Taikoo Sichuan Aircraft Engineering Services in next year's second half, says HAECO commercial director Summit Chan.
It will carry out A320 heavy checks for Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines, he says. HAECO owns 40% while Sichuan Airlines Group and Sichuan Haite High-Tech own 42% and 9% respectively.
Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering (TAECO) general manager of marketing, Hans Chau, says it is opening its sixth hangar in mid-2010, a two-bay 747 hangar.
TAECO generally handles widebodies, but Chau says it will start Airbus A320 heavy checks for Hong Kong's Dragonair.
Further south in China, MTU Zhuhai is expanding too.
MTU Zhuhai president and chief executive Holger Sindemann says construction has started on a building for storage and next year it will expand its main facility.
At present MTU Zhuhai handles only narrowbody aircraft engines, but it plans to add other engine types including widebody powerplants, says Sindemann.
"Our aim is to be Asia's number one MRO and to achieve that we must add new engine models."
Source: Flight International
