Four companies from across the aviation and industrial sectors are teaming up to build a major aircraft maintenance facility in Vietnam, aiming to address a growing gap between the country’s expanding airline industry and its limited domestic repair capacity.
HAECO, Sun Group, Toyota Tsusho, and Japan Airlines announced on June 16, 2026, that they have agreed to form a joint venture to develop a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) complex at Van Don International Airport (VDO) in Quang Ninh Province.
The project carries a total investment of approximately US$360 million, with operations expected to begin in 2028.
Why Vietnam? Why now?
Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, and Vietnam is no exception.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the country’s MRO market is projected to reach US$7.4 billion by 2030. However, domestic maintenance facilities have not kept up with demand, forcing airlines to send aircraft abroad for heavy checks and repairs.
At present, most of the region’s MRO work is concentrated in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. The new facility aims to change that by giving Vietnam its own large-scale maintenance hub.
What the facility will look like
The complex will sit on roughly 20 hectares of land at Van Don International Airport and will be able to handle four widebody and two narrowbody aircraft at the same time. That would make it one of the largest maintenance bases in the country.
The project is expected to create around 1,000 jobs, including about 200 positions for foreign specialists. The partners say the facility will also help develop skilled aviation workers in Vietnam.
A mix of expertise
Each company is contributing a different piece of the puzzle.
HAECO, a Hong Kong-based aircraft engineering company, brings decades of experience in maintenance and repair.
Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerates, has a track record in airport development and aviation infrastructure.
Toyota Tsusho, the trading arm of the Toyota Group, offers expertise in global supply chains and cross-border partnerships.
Japan Airlines contributes operational and maintenance know-how, along with experience in training aviation personnel.
The partners say the facility will help reduce Vietnam’s reliance on overseas maintenance providers and position the country higher in the global aviation value chain. Quang Ninh Province, where the airport is located, is also positioning itself as a hub for high-value industries beyond tourism.
The project is part of a broader push to build up aviation infrastructure in a region where air travel demand continues to climb.