Hong Kong has initiated a new aircraft engineering training centre to support the region's growing aircraft recycling industry. The facility aims to develop skills in dismantling planes and recycling their parts, with the goal of establishing the city as a regional leader in aircraft parts trading and sustainable aviation practices.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu described the centre as a significant step toward creating a regional service supply chain that generates high-value, skilled employment opportunities. The Aviation Academy, established in collaboration with France’s Elior Group, plans to train 1,000 students annually by 2028, drawing talent from Hong Kong, mainland China, and Southeast Asia.
Located at Hong Kong International Airport's China Aircraft Services hangar, the centre is expected to begin dismantling operations by the third quarter of next year, extracting substantial value from aircraft components such as engines and landing gear before recycling materials. Elior Group's CEO emphasized exploring tax incentives and international agreements to bolster aircraft leasing and recycling industries, with Hong Kong positioned to manage the entire aircraft life cycle.
