ST Engineering officially opened its new Commercial Aerospace airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Changi Creek, located within Singapore’s Changi Airport. As ST Engineering’s fourth airframe MRO site in Singapore, the new facility expands the Group’s MRO capacity in one of the world’s leading aviation hubs and strengthens its Commercial Aerospace business’ global airframe MRO network to support growing aircraft maintenance demand. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade), Gan Kim Yong, graced the opening ceremony.
The 84,000 sqm facility features four widebody aircraft bays which, when fully operational, will add 40 percent additional capacity to ST Engineering’s widebody airframe MRO network in Singapore. This potentially translates to some 100 additional widebody aircraft serviced in Singapore per year, giving customers greater flexibility and assured access to maintenance slots as airline fleets expand and aircraft remain in service longer.
Smarter maintenance through digital technologies and AI
The facility is designed for a new generation of airframe maintenance, integrating digitisation, automation and AI to improve efficiency, visibility and maintenance outcomes. Advanced digital planning systems, automated storage and retrieval solutions, robotics and electronic documentation rooms provide end-to-end visibility across the maintenance lifecycle, enabling more streamlined and data-driven operations.
Drones will perform general visual inspections with greater speed and precision, while Autonomous Mobile Robots will deliver aircraft parts directly from storage areas to maintenance bays, improving workflow efficiency and reducing manual handling. Real-time maintenance dashboards will provide instant operational insights, enabling faster and better-informed decision-making.
Together with AI-enabled aircraft inspection and defect identification capabilities, these technologies will enhance maintenance quality, improve aircraft turnaround time and strengthen operational safety, reliability and customer service. This facility also incorporates sustainability features, including on-site solar generation and rainwater harvesting.
Building a future-ready workforce
When fully ramped up, the facility is expected to employ over 500 people. To support increasingly digital and automated maintenance operations, ST Engineering will provide training and upskilling programmes in digital technologies and AI-enabled work processes, equipping employees with the skills needed to complement their technical expertise and work effectively alongside advanced technologies.
“As airline fleets expand and aircraft stay in service longer, airlines need assured capacity, dependable reliability and consistently high quality. Our latest airframe facility aims to meet these customer expectations,” said Kevin Chow, President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering. “This being Singapore’s latest aerospace facility designed for more technology-enabled MRO operations, it also reinforces the country’s strengths as a leading global aviation hub while supporting the development of advanced aerospace capabilities and skilled jobs here.”
“ST Engineering’s new facility is a significant expansion of its MRO capacity and capabilities. The facility will feature advanced robotics, digital and AI capabilities that enable connected, automated and sustainable maintenance operations. These capabilities would provide opportunities for Singaporeans to upskill, work with exciting technologies and pursue rewarding careers in aerospace. We look forward to partnering with companies like ST Engineering to further Singapore’s standing as a premier global aerospace and aviation hub,” said Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President at Singapore Economic Development Board.
Outside Singapore, ST Engineering’s airframe MRO network in Asia Pacific includes facilities in Guangzhou and Ezhou, China. A second hangar at Ezhou is expected to become operational in the second half of 2027, while two new hangars in Pensacola, U.S., will become operational progressively from early 2027, further expanding the Group’s global capacity.
