29 Oct 2026
#5 October 2026: China Aviation Industry Newsletter
HAECO Expands Airbus A380 Engine MRO Capability
HAECO Engine Services in Xiamen has completed the overhaul and delivered its first GP7200 high-pressure compressor module, expanding support for Airbus A380 operators. The company is also developing a new Phase 3 facility in Xiamen, scheduled to become operational during the second quarter of 2027.
China Implements 2026/27 Winter Flight Schedule
China’s 2026/27 winter flight schedule began on 25 October, with around 116,000 passenger and cargo flights planned each week. Approximately 94,000 will be domestic services, while nearly 22,000 weekly international flights will connect China with 85 countries.
China’s Three Largest Airline Groups Report Record Third-Quarter Traffic
Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines reported record passenger traffic during the third quarter of 2026. All three groups have now exceeded their respective 2019 international traffic levels, reflecting the continued recovery of China’s outbound and inbound aviation markets.
Acumen’s Take
On HAECO’s A380 Engine Capability
HAECO’s expanded GP7200 capability strengthens its position in specialised engine maintenance for the Airbus A380 fleet. Additional in-house overhaul capacity can help operators manage engine availability, maintenance planning and long-term fleet support more effectively.
On China’s Winter Flight Schedule
The scale of China’s winter schedule reflects continued growth across both domestic and international aviation. Stronger connectivity can support airline capacity deployment while generating wider demand across airports, MRO, leasing and aviation services.
On China’s Airline Traffic Recovery
The recovery of international traffic across China’s three largest airline groups is an important indicator of network normalisation. Sustained demand growth can support further long-haul capacity, fleet utilisation and investment across the wider Chinese aviation ecosystem.
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