China-based MRO provider FL ARI Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering (FL ARI) has received Part 145 approval from the country’s regulator to conduct base maintenance services on Airbus A320 series aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certification will allow the company to carry out maintenance, repair and modification services, among other operations, from its facility in Harbin for airlines based in China. FL ARI is a joint venture between Lithuania-based FL Technics and China Aircraft Leasing Group subsidiary China Aviation Aftermarket Holdings. It was established in 2018, initially specializing in aircraft disassembly. 

“This CAAC Airbus A320 family certificate opens the door and access to all Chinese airlines,” says Donatas Dockus, CEO of FL ARI, who estimates there are almost 1,800 A320 aircraft operating in China. Aviation Week’s Fleet & MRO Forecast data shows an aftermarket value of $3.2 billion for A320 family aircraft in the country in 2021.

“Analysts predict that the aviation services market in China will be one of the fastest growing in the world over the next 10 years,” Dockus adds. “Therefore, in order to provide a full range of MRO services to the aviation market participants in this region, we plan to obtain EASA 145 approvals for base maintenance in the near future.”

Following the A320 approval, FL ARI has plans to further expand its base maintenance offering into other aircraft types. Later this year, it is targeting the addition of Boeing 737NG base maintenance services.

This follows the company receiving EASA Part 145 certification for A320 and 737NG line maintenance services in 2020.