The Asia-Pacific region is undergoing a wave of MRO expansion as airlines, lessors, and service providers respond to rising maintenance demands. From new hangars to increased engine shop capacity, the region is making significant moves to keep up.

A Surge of New MRO Facilities

In recent years, several major MRO developments have taken place across Asia-Pacific:

• Air India’s new MRO facility at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.

• Asia Digital Engineering unveils Malaysia's largest 14-Line Aircraft Maintenance Hangar.

• ST Engineering’s new airframe facility in Singapore. 

• FL Technics maintenance facility in Denpasar, Indonesia.

• ExecuJet’s business aviation MRO facility in Malaysia.

Beyond physical expansion, many MROs are also investing in upgraded capabilities to better serve the region’s growing fleet. More recently in 2025, Aircraft Propeller Service also open its first propeller MRO site in Malaysia.

More Projects on the Horizon

Several planned developments point to continued momentum in the coming years:

• SAESL signed MOUs with leading agencies and partners in Singapore to expand capacity by 40%.

• Vietjet announced plans to establish MRO facility in Laos.

• ST Engineering and Vietnam Airlines explore setting up Airframe MRO in Vietnam.

• Korean Air plans to open engine MRO cluster in 2027.

  
  

These efforts aim to address long-standing capacity concerns and position the region as a stronger hub for aircraft maintenance.

Why Now?

This wave of expansion is a direct response to rising global maintenance demands. In Asia-Pacific, the pressure is especially pronounced.

IBA has projected a 40 percent increase in engine shop visits by 2025, reaching around 3,500 visits. Airbus, through its Global Services Forecast, estimates that the region’s commercial aircraft services market will more than double in value, hitting 129 billion US dollars by 2043.

What This Means for Operators

While the growth in MRO infrastructure offers some relief, operators should still expect longer lead times and increased costs per shop visit. Availability remains tight, and competition for slots continues to be a concern.

The Need for Better Planning

To navigate this changing landscape, operators and aircraft owners must take a more strategic approach to maintenance planning.

We’ve outlined key actions in our article on shop visit preparation.

Need Expert Support?

If you're looking to improve your planning or assess your technical support needs, our team is ready to help. We work with owners, operators, and lessors to provide tailored technical solutions based on your operational goals and budget.

Contact us at info@tbmaviation.com to start the conversation.