China Eastern Airlines is breaking ground in what will be Asia’s largest aircraft hangar once it is completed in the first half of 2026.
Situated at Shanghai Pudong airport, the China Eastern Airlines International Aviation Maintenance Service site is part of a greater “five centers” initiative to promote the city as a hub for economic, financial, trading, shipping, and scientific and technological innovation.
The total area will span 110,000 m² (1.2 million ft.²) with three hangars and supporting buildings. The largest hangar, Hangar 1, measures 316 m (1,037 ft.) in length and 146 m in depth and can accommodate nine widebody aircraft. The MRO site is expected to inject 1.8 million manhours on MRO services annually.
Around CNY1.6 billion ($221 million) is invested in the program.
It remains unclear which other airlines will participate in China Eastern MRO services, but the carrier alone is one of China’s largest airlines, with 535 Airbus, Boeing and Comac aircraft in service, according to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database.
In 2022, China Eastern and the Lingang Special Area free trade zone signed a strategic cooperation agreement to drive the aviation sector. In addition to MRO services, the agreement will cover the Asia Pacific Aviation Logistic Hub project; Aviation Financial Services Project; Asia-Pacific Aviation Material Trading and Distribution Project; Ground Equipment System Service Project; and the Aviation Engine Joint Venture Project.
