Liebherr and Loong Air Sign REACH-Compliant Maintenance Deal in China

This article is based on an official press release from Liebherr.

On May 29, 2026, during the MRO Greater China 2026 exhibition, Liebherr-Aerospace and Chinese carrier Loong Air officially announced a long-term maintenance agreement. According to the company’s press release, Liebherr will provide major repair and re-coring services for the heat transfer equipment across Loong Air’s fleet of Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft.

The agreement represents a significant environmental milestone for the region’s aviation maintenance sector. It marks Liebherr’s first REACH-compliant re-coring project in China, introducing advanced, eco-friendly coating processes to the Asian market. By adopting these sustainable practices, Liebherr is assisting Loong Air in preparing for increasingly stringent global environmental regulations.

Under the terms of the partnership, the two companies will share maintenance responsibilities. Liebherr-Aerospace will manage the heavy maintenance, including full matrix replacement and major re-coring services. Meanwhile, Loong Air will handle routine cleaning, minor repairs, and testing procedures to ensure ongoing quality and reliability for its fleet.

Pioneering REACH-Compliant Maintenance in China

A central component of this new service agreement is the introduction of REACH-compliant processes to the Chinese aviation market. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) is a strict European Union regulatory framework designed to protect human health and the environment from chemical risks. Historically, aerospace heat transfer equipment relied on hexavalent chromium treatments, which are now being phased out globally due to their toxicity.

The TCS and PACS Technologies

To meet these modern environmental standards, Liebherr has industrialized a REACH-compliant Trivalent Chromium System (TCS) and a Post Application Conversion Sealer (PACS) coating process. According to the technical details provided by Liebherr, the TCS enhances corrosion resistance and paint adhesion, while the PACS seals and reinforces the protective layer for long-term durability. Together, these technologies deliver performance equivalent to legacy chromium-based treatments without the severe environmental drawbacks.

Liebherr notes that it is the first company to offer this specific REACH-compliant service for heat transfer equipment to airline customers in China. This proactive approach allows airlines to avoid costly retrofits or recertification later in the aircraft’s life cycle.

“The integration of the REACH-compliant TCS and the PACS coating process marks a significant step towards a more sustainable customer service and demonstrates our commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility for the benefit of our customers.”

Strategic Localization and Fleet Support

To support the growing demand for advanced maintenance solutions in the Asia-Pacific region, Liebherr has significantly expanded its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. All full matrix replacement and major re-coring work for Loong Air will be conducted at Liebherr’s dedicated service center in Pudong, Shanghai. The company states that this facility is hosted within a 20,000-square-meter regional headquarters and features a dedicated 800-square-meter area specifically designed for the testing and re-coring of aircraft heat transfer equipment.

Empowering Loong Air’s In-House Capabilities

Based at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Loong Air (Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co. Ltd) commenced passenger operations in 2013. The carrier operates a fleet of over 70 aircraft, relying heavily on the Airbus A320 family for its domestic and regional routes. Maintaining a single aircraft family allows the airline to streamline crew training and spare parts management.

As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Liebherr will support Loong Air with technical expertise, access to technical publications, training, and spare parts. This collaborative structure empowers the airline to conduct its in-house maintenance work efficiently while relying on Liebherr for specialized heavy overhauls.

“This contract with Loong Air is a premiere for our re-core activities in China and paves the way for a promising future. Together with our skilled service team in Shanghai, we are strengthening regional support and delivering Liebherr-Aerospace quality with a REACH-compliant coating process, preparing airline customers for future environmental requirements.”

AirPro News analysis

We view this agreement as a strong indicator of two major trends in the global MRO sector: the shift toward “Green Aviation” and the localization of supply chains. By moving away from toxic hexavalent chromium to REACH-compliant trivalent chromium, Liebherr is future-proofing its service offerings against inevitable regulatory tightening in Asia. Furthermore, by expanding its Shanghai facility to handle heavy, specialized re-coring locally, Liebherr enables Chinese airlines like Loong Air to receive OEM-quality maintenance without the need to ship parts overseas. This localized approach significantly reduces turnaround times and lowers the carbon footprint associated with global logistics, creating a highly competitive advantage in the post-pandemic aviation market.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is REACH compliance in aviation?
  REACH is a European Union regulation aimed at protecting human health and the environment from chemical risks. In aviation maintenance, becoming REACH-compliant often means replacing toxic chemicals, such as hexavalent chromium, with safer alternatives like Trivalent Chromium Systems (TCS) for component coatings.
• Which aircraft are covered under the Liebherr and Loong Air agreement?
  The long-term maintenance agreement covers the heat transfer equipment on Loong Air’s fleet of Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft.
• Where will the heavy maintenance take place?
  Liebherr will conduct the full matrix replacement and major re-coring work at its dedicated 800-square-meter service center located within its regional headquarters in Pudong, Shanghai.

Sources: Liebherr Press Release