The HAECO Group agreed to form a joint venture with Sun Group, Toyota Tsusho and Japan Airlines to establish a new maintenance facility at Van Don International Airport in Vietnam. The US$360 million project forms part of HAECO’s long-term growth strategy in Asia and will expand local maintenance capacity in Vietnam by bringing international standards, proven systems and operational best practice to support domestic and global airline customers.
Subject to government and regulatory approvals, the new maintenance facility will cover approximately 170,000 square metres and will be one of the largest hangars in Vietnam. It will be centred on a four-bay widebody hangar, with additional flexibility for narrowbody maintenance in the mid-bays. The facility is also planned with a multi-level administration and support building at the rear, together with annex buildings, engineering spare and material storerooms, a power station, canteen and training rooms, creating an integrated base maintenance hub designed for efficient operations and future expansion.
Sustainability principles will be built into the facility design from the outset, reflecting HAECO’s focus on more efficient and responsible operations across its network. Planned features include smart building systems for power monitoring and control, LED lighting, electrification of ground equipment and wastewater management measures. The facility will also be established to meet the relevant regulatory approval requirements, including approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, subject to final certification arrangements. Operations at the new facility are targeted to commence in late 2028.
The project is expected to create over 1,000 high-skilled jobs and support the development of a sustainable local talent pipeline through structured training and capability-building programmes. HAECO has already begun this process, with Vietnamese recruits hired and currently training at HAECO’s facilities in Xiamen in preparation for future roles at the new facility.
As the new initiative is developed, HAECO plans to incorporate advanced digital tools, technology-enabled processes and AI-enabled applications into its operations, creating opportunities for local talent to build skills in modern aviation support and related technologies.
Mr. Richard Sell, Chief Executive Officer of HAECO Group, said: “This joint venture marks an important milestone in HAECO’s growth strategy in Asia and for the development of aviation maintenance capability in Vietnam. HAECO is grateful for the strong support of the local government and authorities in Vietnam for enabling this investment, and for the partnership, trust and shared commitment of Sun Group, Toyota Tsusho and Japan Airlines. By combining HAECO’s global MRO expertise with the complementary strengths of our partners, we are creating a high-quality, independent maintenance facility that will support airline customers in Vietnam and internationally, while contributing to skills development, capability building and the long-term growth of the country’s aviation ecosystem.”
The HAECO Group has launched an ambitious growth strategy for its Airframe Services division, underpinned by more than US$1 billion of investment over four years. This includes construction of a new, LEED-Platinum certified airframe facility in Xiamen, scheduled to open by the end of 2026, with plans for an additional widebody hangar already well advanced.
With the extension of its footprint to Vietnam’s Van Don International Airport, HAECO expects to operate 31 widebody hangar bays and 10 narrowbody hangar bays in total, delivering around 10 million base maintenance man-hours annually and creating a further 2,000 jobs in local communities, supported by training led at the company’s world-class training centres.
