ST Engineering’s Commercial Aerospace business and SF Airlines have opened a new airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Ezhou Huahu International Airport.
The purpose-built greenfield facility at China's first dedicated cargo airport was first announced in February 2023 and is designed to meet the freighter MRO needs of SF Airlines, China’s largest freighter airline in fleet size.
It will also serve the increasing needs of other cargo and passenger airlines that provide services to and from the region.
The facility will initially feature two hangars and may be subsequently expanded with four additional hangars, said ST Engineering.
The first hangar will induct its inaugural aircraft on 12 August, while the second hangar is slated for completion in the second half of 2027.
Together, the two hangars can accommodate up to four widebody or eight narrowbody aircraft simultaneously.
The MRO facility was developed through ST Engineering Aerospace (HuBei) Aviation Services, the joint venture (JV) of ST Engineering’s Commercial Aerospace business and SF Airlines.
Established in 2023, the JV has been focusing on plans and designs to deliver high-quality airframe MRO services to SF Airlines and global third-party customers.
Jeffrey Lam, president commercial aerospace at ST Engineering, said: “With China leading in global aviation growth, Ezhou’s emergence as a logistics and aviation hub makes it a strategic location from which to serve freight and airline operators.
"Our new facility in Ezhou is well positioned to meet the rising MRO needs of operators in China and across the region.”
Lisheng, chairman of SF Airlines, said: “The global aviation market continues to recover, driving strong demand for aircraft maintenance services. As Hubei province’s aviation industry cluster rapidly takes shape, the establishment of the airframe MRO facility in Ezhou presents broad development prospects.
"With strong support from all sectors, the new facility will fully leverage industrial chain synergies to build a competitive maintenance brand. It will consistently provide professional, efficient and reliable MRO services to customers while contributing to the high-quality development of the aviation industry.”
The facility currently employs about 200 staff and it is expected to generate up to 700 jobs for the local community when both its hangars are fully operational.
It will incorporate smart technologies including robotics and digital systems.
