Airbus will build the first aircraft 'lifecycle' service center in China by 2023. The manufacturer has partnered with Tarmac Aerosave and says it wants to position itself ahead of a predicted massive phasing out of aging aircraft from Chinese fleets over the coming twenty years.

Entry into service 2023

Planemaker behemoth Airbus announced on Thursday that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the city of Chengdu and Tarmac Aerosave to develop the first sustainable aircraft 'lifecycle' service center in China. Activities at the facilities will cover a broad range of initiatives, including parking and storage, upgrades, conversions, and dismantling as well as recycling services. Aircraft transition expert Tarmac Aerosave has already handled several retired A380s.

The partners expect to sign a formal agreement by mid-2022. Intentions are for the new service center to begin functioning by the end of next year. However, the exact timeline will be subject to regulatory approvals. The facility will cover an area of 690,000 square meters and have a storage capacity for 125 aircraft.

“This is another concrete contribution to the aviation industry's quest for sustainability, supporting the principle of a circular economy in line with Airbus’ purpose to pioneer sustainable aerospace. This unique centre will support the expansion of Airbus’ aviation services while enabling the implementation of China's “Green Industry” strategy,” Klaus Roewe, senior vice president of Airbus customer services, said in a statement.

China Southern Airbus A319neo
Airbus says it wants to keep investing in the region, which is forecasted to need close to 9,000 new aircraft by 2040. Photo: Airbus

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Hoping to ride the phase-out wave

Meanwhile, aircraft phase-out in China is forecasted to increase exponentially over the coming two decades. Airbus says the new facilities are another step in its willingness to invest in the region and that they will position the manufacturer well on the Chinese aircraft ‘second life’ services market.

In its commercial market outlook from last year, rival planemaker Boeing predicted that Chinese airlines will need 8,700 new planes by 2040. While the two companies that have defined most of commercial aviation over the last few decades remain the leading suppliers of machines for Chinese carriers, they have begun to experience some stark competition from the country's homegrown aircraft models. 

The C919 is a huge milestone in China's quest to become a larger player in commercial aircraft manufacturing. Photo: Getty Images

Airbus vs. Boeing vs. COMAC

In 2020, many Chinese airlines (and not only) postponed hundreds of deliveries from both Airbus and Boeing. While they are likely to take those planes sometime in the future, orders have also begun adding up for the C919, COMAC's narrowbody challenger to the 737 and A320 families, topping 800 late last year.

The manufacturer had planned for the plane's certification to take place before the end of 2021. However, strict lockdowns in Xi'an following a recent COVID-19 outbreak have thrown a wrench in the timeline, with no less than four out of six C919 test aircraft finding themselves on the ground in the area when restrictions hit.