Xiamen customs officers inspect an aircraft under maintenance. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
A Cathay Pacific aircraft landed at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport on April 1 and, under the supervision of Xiamen Airport Customs, proceeded to the HAECO Xiamen maintenance hangar.
This marks the 52nd aircraft brought into Xiamen for maintenance this year, and the 722nd since the "bonded maintenance outside special customs supervision areas" model was introduced, pushing the total import and export value under this model past 600 billion yuan ($87.1 billion).
The model allows enterprises to bring overseas goods or means of transport — such as those with damaged parts, functional failures, or quality defects — into China for inspection and repair under bonded terms before re-exporting them.
Approved as a pilot project in 2017, the Xiamen Free Trade Zone offers bonded benefits to aviation maintenance companies within it, including exemption from guarantee, eligibility for tax rebates, and ledger-based management.
Staff repair the aircraft engine. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
After years of development, this model has helped Xiamen build a world-class one-stop aviation maintenance hub. Home to nine renowned companies including HAECO and Honeywell, the hub now integrates services ranging from major airframe overhaul and passenger-to-freighter conversion to business jet completion, engine and landing gear maintenance, aviation electrical repairs, parts manufacturing and repair, as well as technical training.
Riding on favorable policies, HAECO Xiamen has resolved issues such as tied-up guarantee funds and customs clearance delays. Its advantages in operating costs and efficiency have become more evident, strengthening its global competitiveness. The company's maintenance orders are already booked through 2030.