ST engineering's aerospace arm opens new hangar at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport

Its facility in Shanghai, Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Company Limited (STARCO), is a joint venture company between China Eastern Airlines (CEA) and ST Aerospace.

The newly completed 14,200 sqm (152,848 sq ft) hangar complex can accommodate two narrow-body aircraft and three wide-body aircraft (which include an Airbus A380) at any one time. The facility costs about RMB290m (approximately US$42m). The increased capacity enables STARCO, which has been operating at maximum capacity, to grow its operations. The strategic location of the new facility at Pudong International Airport complements its existing operations in Hongqiao International Airport and at the same time, provides flexibility to STARCO's customers operating and flying into Shanghai. This new hangar increases ST Aerospace's total hangar capacity to 45 narrow-body bays and 28 wide-body bays located in key aviation hubs around the world.

"STARCO has grown from strength to strength over the last five years, providing outstanding maintenance support to CEA's fleet while remaining committed as the largest aircraft maintenance player in Shanghai, serving both Chinese and international airlines. STARCO's expansion to a second location at Pudong International Airport solidifies the successful partnership between CEA and ST Aerospace. We are confident of STARCO's continual support to CEA and customers within and outside China. With Shanghai's plan to develop the city into a strong international economic, financial, trading and transportation hub, we look forward to STARCO growing its role as a key player in China's commercial aviation market." ~ LI Yangmin, Vice President, CEA and Chairman, STARCO

"The expansion of STARCO at Pudong International Airport enhances our capacity to meet the growing maintenance needs of customers, within and from outside of China. The increased capacity attests to our confidence in China's growing commercial aviation market and STARCO's ability to grow our external market as part of ST Aerospace's global network. We are pleased that STARCO has done well in supporting CEA, as well as international customers from ST Aerospace's global customer base. We look forward to growing STARCO's capabilities and capacities to provide better support to our customers." ~ TAY Kok Khiang, President, ST Aerospace and Deputy Chairman, STARCO