HAECO has extended its base maintenance agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL) through 2033, with more than 180 aircraft inputs expected under the renewed partnership.
The work will be carried out at HAECO’s Xiamen facility and covers JAL’s Boeing 737, 767, 777 and 787 fleets, as well as its Airbus A350 aircraft.
HAECO and JAL’s base maintenance partnership in Xiamen spans more than 20 years, during which more than 430 aircraft inputs have been completed.
The relationship reached a further milestone in 2025 when HAECO inducted its first JAL A350 for base maintenance.
The extension comes as HAECO prepares to relocate its Xiamen operations to a new maintenance base at Xiang’an International Airport later this year.
Gerald Steinhoff, chief commercial officer of HAECO, said: “We are proud of the longstanding relationship we have built with JAL. For more than 20 years, our Xiamen facility has supported its fleet, earning the trust that has enabled our collaboration to grow beyond base maintenance to include line maintenance services in Hong Kong.
“The strength and depth of this partnership reflect our shared commitment to excellence, and we remain dedicated to supporting JAL’s continued success.”
Takashi Hamamoto, executive officer, senior vice president, engineering and maintenance division at JAL, described HAECO as a “trusted and highly valued partner”, adding that the airline was pleased to continue the relationship as HAECO transitions to its new Xiamen facility.
Scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2026, the new base at Xiang’an International Airport has received LEED Platinum certification. HAECO says the facility will feature the world’s largest single-span aircraft maintenance hangar and is designed to improve sustainability, technological capability and operational efficiency.
JAL is also a shareholder in HAECO Xiamen and a joint venture partner in HAECO’s planned maintenance facility at Van Don International Airport in Vietnam, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2028.
The news was announced during the Aviation Week MRO Asia-Pacific 2026 event in Singapore.
