MRO in Thailand: rapid growth as U-Tapao and Sukhothai facilities open

Thailand is planning major expansion of its MRO sector, which should enable the country's maintenance providers to compete for more regional business. Thailand currently has relatively limited MRO capacity, making it difficult to handle its own fast growing fleet.

The Thailand government is heavily promoting and investing in a new maintenance complex at U-Tapao Airport outside Bangkok. Thai Airways' maintenance division, Thai Technical, is planning to open a new joint venture widebody airframe maintenance facility at U-Tapao with Airbus and could forge partnerships with other manufacturers. The largest LCC group in Thailand, AirAsia, is also aiming to establishing a MRO complex at U-Tapao.

Thai Technical's main facility is now at Bangkok's old airport Don Mueang, while Thai AirAsia outsources its maintenance. Bangkok Airways and several independent MRO providers also have facilities at Don Mueang, where there is limited, or no, space for expansion.