SINGAPORE: Singapore's aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector is set for a lift, with more facilities coming onboard.

With greater global appetite for air transport – the United Nations’ aviation agency expects a yearly increase of 4.3 per cent over the next two decades – the demand for MRO is expected to soar.  

"There's a long queue for airlines awaiting delivery of new aircraft that they have on order," said Mr Sia Kheng Yok, CEO of the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore).

"As such, some of the older aircraft – their service will have to be extended. Hence, more maintenance is needed to ensure that these aircraft remain in very good condition." 

MORE FACILITIES 

Bellwethers like ST Engineering are looking to do more to meet the demand, such as building additional airframe maintenance hangers in Singapore and abroad. 

"We plan to open a new engine shop later this year so that we have more capacity for engine overhaul," said Mr Jeffrey Lam, president of commercial aerospace at ST Engineering. 

The facility will provide MRO services for the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines that power narrow-body aircraft, including the new generation Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. It is expected to provide 200 engine shop visit capacity annually. 

The company said these additions will boost its man-hours in Singapore by a third next year – to over 4 million annually.

"We're hiring more people – in Singapore in particular – so that we can grow the amount of services that we can offer to our global customers," Mr Lam said. 

The firm wants to add up to 500 staff to its headcount in the next one to two years, with engineer and technician roles certified in avionics and landing gear among the skill demands, added Mr Lam.

STRONG AVIATION SECTOR

Singapore contributes about 10 per cent of current global MRO output, making it a leading hub in Asia.

Industry players believe the nation is well-positioned to leverage the growth.

“For a small country like Singapore, 10 per cent of global market share is very significant,” said Mr Sia, pointing out the aviation sector has recovered well since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between 2022 and 2024, Singapore bagged over