Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Co, a joint venture between China Eastern Airlines and ST Aerospace, launched a 290 million yuan (US$42.46 million) hangar yesterday at Pudong International Airport to boost its aircraft maintenance business.

The new hangar will increase the company's combined capacity in Shanghai to 1.5 million man-hours, compared with the previous 750,000 man-hours in its two-hangar facility at Hongqiao airport.

The hangar, covering 14,200 square meters, can accommodate three wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft simultaneously, including an Airbus A380 jet, the company said yesterday.

Deputy General Manager Chen Guanghui said the Pudong facility will serve mainly Airbus jets, including A330 jets for China Eastern, and MD11 jets, while the Hongqiao facility will maintain mainly A320, A300 and Boeing 737 jets.

The joint venture has been profitable for four straight years, and its profit exceeded 10 million yuan last year.