Singapore Technologies Aerospace is looking to bring more foreign work into China as it and partner China Eastern Airlines more than double the capacity of their Shanghai airframe maintenance joint venture, Starco. The pair have conceptual plans for further expansion of Starco, and the Singapore company, known as ST Aerospace, is itself keen for more opportunities in China.

SR Technics, feeling the lure of Asia, is reviewing a wide range of potential businesses and locations as it seeks to get closer to customers in the booming region. Although the Swiss company reckons it is competing well from its Zurich base, the attraction of having a bigger presence in Asia has prompted it to look into doing more work locally, going well beyond the limited operations it now has in the region.

Engine overhaul shop MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, already making money only four years after opening in southern China, is likely to expand within three years and handsomely boost profits. The 50-50 joint venture between Germany’s MTU Aero Engines GmbH. and China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. needs very little new equipment to lift its capacity from 200-220 engine shop visits a year to 300, and can stretch output further to 350 with more workers, says President and CEO Walter Strakosch.