Engineering and maintenance provider HAECO has announced plans to establish a joint venture with Sun Group, Toyota Tsusho and Japan Airlines to develop a new aircraft maintenance facility at Van Don International Airport.

The US$360 million project forms part of HAECO’s long-term growth strategy in Asia and is intended to strengthen maintenance capacity in Vietnam by introducing international standards, established operational systems and industry best practices to support both domestic and international airline customers.

Subject to government and regulatory approvals, the facility will occupy approximately 170,000 sqm, making it one of the largest aircraft maintenance hangars in Vietnam. The development will be centred on a four-bay widebody hangar, with the flexibility to accommodate narrowbody aircraft in the middle bays.

Operations are targeted to begin in late 2028.

The site will also include a multi-level administration and support building, engineering spare parts and materials stores, a power station, canteen and training facilities, creating an integrated base maintenance hub designed to support future expansion.

HAECO said sustainability considerations will be incorporated into the design from the outset. Planned features include smart building systems for power monitoring and control, LED lighting, electrified ground support equipment and wastewater management measures.

The facility is expected to create more than 1,000 highly skilled jobs and support the development of local aviation talent through structured training and capability-building programmes. HAECO said it has already recruited Vietnamese personnel who are currently undergoing training at its facilities in Xiamen ahead of the facility’s opening.

The company also plans to incorporate advanced digital technologies, technology-enabled processes and AI-powered applications into the operation, providing opportunities for employees to develop skills in modern aviation support services.

Richard Sell, chief executive 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 announcement forms part of a broader expansion programme for HAECO’s airframe services division, backed by more than US$1 billion in investment over four years. This includes 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 progressing.

Once the Vietnam facility enters service, HAECO expects its global network to comprise 31 widebody and 10 narrowbody hangar bays, delivering around 10 million base maintenance man-hours annually while supporting the creation of approximately 2,000 additional jobs across local communities.

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