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

The airport economy of Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is fast becoming a vital part of the global aviation supply chain.

The latest 2025 assessment by China's General Administration of Customs ranks the Haikou Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone 60th nationwide, up 10 places from the previous year, with a Category B rating. Its total import and export value jumped 227.6% year on year, placing it one of the top 10 most improved bonded zones in China. In 2025, its bonded aircraft maintenance business had import and export values surpassing CNY 100 billion, a 70% increase from the previous year, ranking it first among the 161 bonded zones evaluated.

The zone has established two specialized platforms focused on one-stop aircraft maintenance and aero-engine maintenance, bringing together five top MRO companies. It now holds 24 international maintenance licenses across 19 countries and regions, along with 2,300 component maintenance certifications, ranking it among China's top-tier in comprehensive maintenance capacity.

By May 2026, the base had completed maintenance on nearly 3,000 aircraft, carried out full-aircraft painting for more than 350 aircraft, and repaired 74,000 aircraft components, serving nearly 50 domestic and international airlines.

In 2025, the aviation maintenance sector generated more than CNY 6.3 billion in operating revenue, a 21.2% increase from the previous year, while industrial output reached CNY 1.44 billion, up 53%, with an average annual growth rate of 29%.

The zone's increasing appeal to global airlines is driven by a combination of the Hainan FTP's advantages and the zone's bonded nature. An innovative duty-free aircraft maintenance system, along with zero-tariff and bonded supervision policies, has cut maintenance costs for companies by 15%.

Additionally, the zone facilitated the first "zero-tariff + bonded leasing" helicopter deal within the FTP, creating a new leasing avenue. A simplified regulatory process now allows registered aircraft engines to enter the bonded zone directly, saving companies nearly CNY 30,000 in logistics costs per shipment.

The Haikou Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone is speeding up the development of an integrated innovation system that combines bonded maintenance, zero-tariff aviation materials, financial leasing, and aircraft dismantling, aiming to establish a Hainan model for international aviation services. Moving forward, the zone plans to maintain alignment with high international standards and become a global benchmark in the aviation industry.