Hainan Free Trade Port One-stop Aircraft Maintenance Industrial Base. (Source: hinews.cn)

Leveraging its policy benefits and proximity to the airport, Haikou Jiangdong New Area is fast-tracking the growth of its bonded aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector, steadily becoming a crucial hub in the global aviation industry chain.

Located in the Jiangdong New Area's airport economic zone, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP)'s One-stop Aircraft Maintenance Base and aircraft engine maintenance facility are now in full operation. Together, these facilities form a holistic industrial system that includes airframe maintenance, full-aircraft painting, aviation component repairs, and engine servicing.

Since its launch in 2022, data indicate that the base has performed maintenance on over 2,500 aircraft, carried out more than 320 full livery painting projects, and repaired over 68,000 aviation components, supporting 45 airlines globally. The sector has seen remarkable growth in its scale.

In 2024, Jiangdong's aviation maintenance industry recorded about CNY 31.1 billion in import and export trade, ranking among the top nationwide. The industry's growth picked up in 2025, with combined import/export value surpassing CNY 102.7 billion, an 80% increase from the previous year. Operating revenue reached CNY 5.52 billion, while the total industrial output was CNY 1.44 billion, reflecting increases of 22.7% and 53%, respectively, demonstrating strong growth across key indicators.

Collectively, enterprises at the base hold 24 aircraft maintenance licenses and 1 OEM authorization from authorities and manufacturers across 19 countries and regions. These include the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). They have obtained a total of 2,291 certifications for aircraft component maintenance, ranking among the top nationwide and setting benchmarks in Asia.

Enhanced efficiency has become a crucial factor in attracting international clients. Currently, painting narrow-body aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 takes only 6 days, 25%–40% faster than the domestic average of 8–10 days. For wide-body aircraft, the turnaround for Airbus A330 is 11 days, below the industry standard of 12–15 days, while Boeing 787 painting is completed in 16 days, making it 37.5%–50% faster than the usual 26–32 days. These fast, streamlined services have become a key factor in attracting global airline customers and enabling airlines to cut operating costs effectively.

Technicians carry out maintenance work. (Source: hinews.cn)

Within the airport's comprehensive bonded zone, aircraft from Jordan, Vietnam, Qatar, and others are neatly arranged, a testament to Jiangdong's international aviation maintenance capabilities. The Hainan FTP has implemented policies, such as waiving security deposits for inbound aircraft maintenance, allowing bonded maintenance supplies, and imposing zero tariffs on self-use production equipment. Additionally, customs clearance reforms have enhanced the efficiency of circulation for aviation materials, leading to a 10% to 15% reduction in overall maintenance costs.

The industrial chain is also reaching higher levels. Haikou Meilan Airport Genesis Aviation Engine Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd. has established a domestically advanced 150,000-pound-thrust aero-engine test cell, which can support testing of major global civil aviation engines and addresses a deficiency in regional high-end engine maintenance capacity.

Industry insiders observed that as the institutional opening-up of the Hainan FTP progresses, Jiangdong New Area is expected to strengthen its international aviation maintenance services and offer a more competitive "China solution" for the global aviation industry chain.