Construction is underway at the Qingdao Airport Aircraft Engineering project in Jiaozhou, Qingdao. [Photo/WeChat account: Openings-SailingCity]

Qingdao is expanding its aircraft maintenance capabilities with construction accelerating on a major aviation engineering project near Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport.

The Qingdao Airport Aircraft Engineering project launched a 100-day construction drive on Sept 18, aiming to complete the main structure of its wide-body aircraft hangar in November.

Planned on about 53 hectares, the project is being developed in phases. Its first phase covers 15.6 hectares and includes maintenance hangars capable of servicing both wide- and narrow-body aircraft, a painting hangar and supporting facilities.

Scheduled to begin operations in August 2027, the facility will become Shandong province's first independently operated maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, base for both wide- and narrow-body aircraft.

It will provide services ranging from routine inspections and heavy maintenance to aircraft modification, painting and component repair.

The first phase is expected to generate an annual output of 540 million yuan ($75.9 million) at full capacity.

Qingdao is also moving into higher-value aircraft conversion. A Boeing 777 passenger-to-freighter conversion line is planned at Jiaodong International Airport, adding to a growing aviation cluster that includes aircraft maintenance, parts services and technical training.