Air China and Rolls-Royce complete $315 million engine MRO facility in Beijing

Air China and Rolls-Royce complete $315 million engine MRO facility in Beijing

Air China and Rolls-Royce have completed construction of their $315 million engine MRO facility in Beijing, marking a major expansion of Rolls-Royce’s global service network and a significant milestone for China’s fast-growing aftermarket sector.

The joint venture, Beijing Aero Engine Services Ltd (BAESL), will induct its first Trent engine in December 2025, with commercial operations ramping up fully by early 2026.

Strategically located in Shunyi District within the Beijing Capital International Airport Economic Zone, the new facility is designed as a digitally enabled, next-generation shop. It will support the overhaul of Trent 700, powering Airbus A330, Trent XWB-84, powering Airbus A350 and Trent 1000, powering Boeing 787.

These engines form the backbone of China’s expanding widebody operations, with nearly 600 Trent engines currently in service across Chinese carriers.

Rolls-Royce said BAESL incorporates advanced tooling, automation, and digital monitoring systems to enhance efficiency, accuracy and turnaround time. Infrastructure at the site includes dedicated overhaul bays, component repair areas, a high-capability engine test facility, warehousing for parts, and digital operations centres.

Spanning over 80,000 sq. m, BAESL is one of the largest engine MRO investments recently undertaken in the region. According to Beijing’s investment authorities, the facility will employ up to 800 specialists at full capacity and is projected to reach 250 engine shop visits annually by the mid-2030s.

For Air China, the JV strengthens domestic capability for high-thrust widebody engines, an area where Chinese operators have historically relied on overseas overhaul shops. Airline executives said the project supports the “industrialisation and localisation” of China’s engine services industry, improving self-reliance and reducing foreign dependency.

This is Rolls-Royce’s first engine MRO joint venture in mainland China and its fourth globally.  The addition of BAESL aligns with Rolls-Royce’s strategy to enhance aftermarket proximity in key markets with growing widebody demand.

With civil works now complete, Rolls-Royce and Air China will begin operational readiness testing, validating tooling, workflow systems, digital platforms and staffing before the first engine arrives later this year.

Once operational, BAESL is expected to significantly reduce turnaround times for Chinese carriers, strengthen China’s position as a leading MRO hub in Asia-Pacific, provide long-term service capacity for China’s expanding widebody fleet and offer technology and skill transfers to bolster domestic maintenance capability