HAECO

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (Chinese: 香港飛機工程公司), better known as HAECO (港機工程), (: 0044, OTC Pink: ). Established in Hong Kong in 1950, HAECO is one of the world’s leading independent aircraft engineering and maintenance groups. It is one of the largest Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service providers in terms of capacity.

The HAECO Group consists of 18 subsidiaries and affiliates, employing over 17,000 staff in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore and the United States. In 2012, HAECO was awarded the “Leading Independent Organisation” by Aviation Week and voted as the “Best Airframe MRO Provider – Asia” at the Aircraft Technology Engineering & Maintenance Awards.

HAECO's roots predate the company's official establishment, reaching back to the years immediately following World War II when the Swire Group identified the aviation industry as an area of great potential. With no experience in aviation but every confidence in the expert engineering skills gained in the Taikoo Dockyard, Swire formed the Pacific Air Maintenance & Supply Company (PAMAS), which would later merge with Jardine Air Maintenance (JAMCo) to become HAECO in November 1950.

In its first decade of operation, HAECO trebled its turnover and workforce. The company's offerings grew as it introduced overhaul services for turboprop aircraft and built its first engine test bed.

Highlighting its success, HAECO was floated on the Hong Kong stock market in 1965. Meanwhile, capacity development continued. By 1965, HAECO was fully equipped to service the Convair 880M introduced by Cathay Pacific Airways, and in 1968 the company began the construction of Asia's largest aircraft maintenance hangar.

In the 70s, the era of the jumbo jet brought more changes. HAECO broadened its capabilities to encompass a range of wide-body aircraft and jet engine types, such as the L1011 TriStar series equipped with Rolls-Royce RB211 engines. The company became an official member of the Swire Group when Swire Pacific increased its shareholding to 51% in 1975.