At the beginning of the new spring, the aviation maintenance industry in Xiamen is demonstrating promising momentum. According to statistics, Xiamen Customs District supervised the inbound maintenance of 21 aircraft this January, marking a 23.53% increase compared to the same period last year. The value of bonded maintenance imports and exports reached RMB 20.337 billion, representing a 78.72% year-on-year growth.

Aviation maintenance, a crucial component of the aviation sector, is a high-tech industry that combines technology, capital, and innovation. Xiamen has now emerged as the largest inbound aviation maintenance hub in China. With the recovery of the international aviation market, Xiamen Airlines' engine maintenance business has experienced substantial growth. In 2024, Xiamen Customs District supervised the inbound maintenance of 141 engines, marking an 11% year-on-year increase and setting a new historical record.

“In 2024, HAECO Xiamen achieved record-high working hours and revenue. As 2025 begins, business volume continues to maintain strong momentum, driven by robust customer demand,” said Guan Jianwen Kevin, Chief Executive Officer of HAECO Xiamen Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, a leading company in the aviation maintenance industry.

To foster new drivers of industrial growth via innovative regulatory models, Xiamen Customs District, in response to industry development needs, has consistently introduced a series of replicable and scalable regulatory innovations. It has implemented 12 measures to promote sustainable industry development, including launching pilot programs to optimize temporary warehouse supervision, repair of spare parts for goods awaiting maintenance, and outbound supervision of aircraft materials for route maintenance. This has resulted in the formation of an integrated aviation maintenance and comprehensive industry chain regulatory system. In 2024, the Xiamen Customs District increased the number of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) for aviation maintenance by 50%, significantly reduced customs clearance time by over 25%, and saved the entire industry nearly RMB 200 million in costs.

"Inbound aviation maintenance is a vital channel for promoting dual circulation in the aviation sector. Through regulatory innovations, we tackle the challenge of high import costs for maintenance equipment, ensuring that relevant companies can swiftly expand their capabilities in servicing GP7200 engines, domestic C909 aircraft engines, C919 landing gear, and other aviation components. These efforts support the introduction of advanced aviation maintenance technologies and stimulate new growth momentum in the development of Xiamen's aviation maintenance industry via multiple measures,” said Song Lin, head of the Aviation Maintenance and Bonded Tax Section at Xiamen Airport Customs.

Translated by Fujian Investment Promotion Center