Boeing Shanghai Celebrates Entering Shanghai Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone

Dec. 12, 2012
The MRO can now facilitate greater freedom of aircraft movement for MRO activity.

SHANGHAI, Dec 12, 2012 – BoeingShanghaiAviation Services Co., Ltd., (Boeing Shanghai) today celebrated its induction into Shanghai’s Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone. The company is the first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company to conduct business in a free trade zone in China.

Inclusion in the Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone exempts Boeing Shanghai from numerous processes and will provide greater efficiency and savings for customer airlines and leasing companies. The MRO can now facilitate greater freedom of aircraft movement for aircraft maintenance and modification, as well as duty on associated material, tooling and equipment imports.

“With entry into the Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone, Boeing Shanghai customers from around the world will benefit from progressive programs to expedite Customs clearance processes,” said Dermot Swan, CEO of Boeing Shanghai. “Moreover, international material trading and a component management program can be developed by Boeing Shanghai to better support our customers. At the same time, Boeing Shanghai continues to contribute to China’s aviation industry by developing aviation professionals and expanding its capabilities to serve a growing list of international clients.”

“It is a great honor and accomplishment for Boeing Shanghai as the first MRO to join the Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone,” said Dennis Floyd, vice president, Fleet Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “But Boeing Shanghai’s customers are the real winners with improved access to high quality, efficient and cost-effective maintenance services.”

A Jet Airways 777-300ER was the first airplane to enter Boeing Shanghai under the new free trade zone policies. The passenger cabin reconfiguration was completed in less than one month and redelivered in early December.

Established in November 2009, Shanghai Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone covers a land area of 3.59 km2 (1.39 square miles) in Shanghai.  Its main function is to facilitate international distribution, entrepot trade, export processing, inspection and maintenance, bonded warehousing, cargo transfer, and finance leasing.

Boeing Shanghai was established in June 2006 as a joint venture between Boeing, Shanghai Airport Authorities and China Eastern Airlines. Boeing Shanghai offers a broad range of services from engineering, aircraft maintenance and modification to material management and component repair and overhaul.  Boeing Shanghai supports customers located throughout the world.