HAECO Xiamen has conducted a groundbreaking ceremony to commence the construction of a new aircraft maintenance facility at Xiamen Xiang’an International Airport.

Currently based in Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, HAECO Xiamen will relocate to the new airport. The new maintenance facility will cover a total area of 537,300sq m, including a construction area of 292,300 sqm and an apron area of ​​284,000sq m.

HAECO Xiamen said 18 new buildings would be constructed to cater to apron engineering, engine test bays, utility tunnel, aviation fuel supply and other outdoor works.

There will be 12 widebody and six narrowbody maintenance bays, as well as two separate painting bays. Once construction is completed, HAECO Xiamen will be the largest single span aircraft maintenance hangar in the world, according to the HAECO Group member.

HAECO Xiamen said it was combining innovation, green design and advanced technology in an attempt to “achieve optimum energy utilisation and operational efficiency”. The company said: “The construction project has been designed from the outset to optimise operational efficiency and maximise space utilisation, helping to reduce aircraft maintenance turnaround times and improve punctuality to meet its customers’ maintenance schedules.

“The innovative ‘centre-axle’ design connects the hangars and ancillary buildings, facilitating logistics management and resource sharing. The new maintenance facility will also feature innovative design and state-of-the-art green measures including solar power, intelligent building management systems, intelligent lighting controls, water storage and air conditioning systems, as well as advanced wastewater and air treatment, with the goal of achieving gold certification under the LEED-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction) rating system.”