Boeing to open aircraft maintenance center in Hong Kong

American multinational aerospace and defense firm The Boeing Company will establish an aircraft maintenance and service center in Hong Kong.

The facility will be run in cooperation with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Boeing on the cooperative project Nov. 10

Media reports said Boeing decided to open an aircraft maintenance and service center in Hong Kong mainly because Hong Kong is a major global aviation hub. The massive number of flights to and from Hong Kong means the demand for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services is increasing, Boeing said.

The Hong Kong government welcomed the proposed joint venture project and said this will mark a breakthrough in Hong Kong's bid to become an international aircraft maintenance center. It will also help raise the number of high value-added jobs available in Hong Kong.

Boeing’s decision comes at a time when passenger and cargo traffic is increasing at Hong Kong International Airport. HKIA reported an increase in passenger trips by 1.3% and a 6.8% rise in cargo volume in September year-on-year.

That translates into 4.4 million passengers and 347,000 tonnes in September. Air traffic movements, on the other hand, grew 4.1% to 28,850.

HKIA said the growth in passenger traffic was driven mainly by more travel among Hong Kong residents, which rose 11% over the same month last year. Passenger traffic to and from the Mainland and Taiwan improved noticeably.

Passenger trips and cargo volume at Hong Kong International Airport in September rose 1.3% and 6.8% year-on-year, to 4.4 million and 347,000 tonnes, while air traffic movements grew 4.1% to 28,850.