A joint venture agreement has been signed to construct a US$360 million aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) complex at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province.

The agreement, finalised on 16 June, brings together Vietnamese developer Sun Group, global engineering firm HAECO, Japan Airlines and Toyota Tsusho. The 20-hectare site will become one of the largest aircraft maintenance bases in Vietnam. It also represents the first time a privately developed airport in the country will host a facility of this scale.

The first phase of the development will create a facility built to international standards, capable of servicing four wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft at the same time. A second phase will subsequently expand the hangar footprint and operational capacity to meet future demand.

The complex is scheduled to begin operations in 2028. It is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs, including roles for roughly 200 international experts. The project aims to develop a highly skilled domestic engineering workforce to address the local supply shortage.

By combining HAECO’s technical expertise, which supports over 300 airlines, with the operational experience of Japan Airlines and the commercial network of Toyota Tsusho, the venture sets a firm foundation for the hub. The initiative comes as Southeast Asia sees rapid growth in aviation, while advanced MRO capacity remains concentrated in nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam estimates the domestic MRO market will reach US$7.4 billion by 2030, a demand that current local capacity cannot meet. This new hub aims to lower dependence on foreign facilities and improve regional competitiveness.

Sun Group, which manages several domestic airports, intends to use the hub to improve technical self-reliance for its subsidiary, Sun PhuQuoc Airways.