Thailand Targets China's Aircraft Maintenance Market with New Hub

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand is positioning itself to compete with China in the thriving aircraft maintenance sector. Chiang Rai Airport is set to become a key Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub, driven by Airports of Thailand (AOT) and its ambitious plans to tap into the expanding Chinese market.

 

AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat shared that ground preparations have begun, with the first hangar expected by late 2025. The company is in talks with the Chinese aerospace powerhouse, AVIC, to set up an MRO facility at this strategic location.

 

"Chiang Rai has a vast area, with only 316 out of 1,186 acres used. Located near China's southern border, it's ideal for Chinese aircraft that struggle with effective MRO in China," Kerati explained.

 

 

The project, promising as it is, will need time to reach full potential. Kerati estimates a five-year timeline for the facility to become fully operational. Presently, Chiang Rai Airport runs on a single 3,000-meter runway, accommodating both domestic and international airlines, including China Eastern Airlines, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet Air.

 

In the meantime, Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport eyes its own MRO expansion. With the cancellation of a planned northern terminal, AOT has new land available to develop an additional hangar, potentially strengthening Thailand's MRO capabilities further.

 

-- 2025-02-04

 

 

[trainman34014]

Now let me see; how many 'Hubs' is that they have opened since Jan 1st and how can i find them.....Lol !

[OneZero]

What about the planned large-scale maintenance operation (if I understand correctly) at Utaphao?

[PETERTHEEATER]

To compete with Chinese MRO yet AOT is in discussion with AVIC, a Chinese company?

[Will B Good]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is positioning itself to compete with China in the thriving aircraft maintenance sector.

 

The words Thailand and aircraft maintenance in the same sentence scare me rigid.

[Purdey]

There is that story of how someone stole a jet engine from the Thai International maintenance team and sold it back in pieces.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, OneZero said:

What about the planned large-scale maintenance operation (if I understand correctly) at Utaphao?

Pending interest...

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

The words Thailand and aircraft maintenance in the same sentence scare me rigid.

A hammer and a screwdriver... universal toolbox, for the engineers..

As for who's going to do all the paperwork.... well

[Will B Good]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

A hammer and a screwdriver... universal toolbox, for the engineers..

As for who's going to do all the paperwork.... well

 

It will be of the few areas where they are not keen on paperwork as it provides a paper trail....555

[scottiejohn]

17 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

A hammer and a screwdriver... universal toolbox, for the engineers..

You forgot the duct tape!

[KhunLA]

30 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

You forgot the duct tape!

Not far from reality, except they use "Aircraft aluminum speed tape"   

 

And in comes in a roll, similar to a roll of duct tape.  Cracked my up, the first time I saw an AC mech. applying it

 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

You forgot the duct tape!

Mai mee

[Briggsy]

Hang on a minute. The story seems to contradict itself. Is this Thai companies offering a service to Chinese aircraft or a Thai government entity offering  Thai land for a Chinese company to offer services to another Chinese entity therefore offering very little economic benefit to Thailand. The latter seems to be the M.O. for all Chinese operations outside of mainland China. This ensures the money never leaves the Chinese economy.

 

Other than the bribes for the civil servants for greasing the wheels and getting the contract signed, I don't see any benefit for Thailand. In addition, public sector unions would usually vehemently oppose such a move. However, union leaders are often bribed as well.