Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

ExecuJet Haite has built a business aviation maintenance organization with deep roots in China, starting with a facility in Tianjin 16 years ago. More recently it opened a 5,000-sq-m (54,000-sq-ft) hangar at the new Daxing Airport in Beijing.
Sixty percent of the company’s work is for aircraft registered in China, according to Paul&nbsp;Desgrosseilliers, its general manager for China.&nbsp;The remainder comes from business jets registered under FAA, EASA, Cayman Islands, and Bermuda, among other jurisdictions. As a joint venture between Dassault Aviation's wholly owned ExecuJet MRO Services and China's Haite group, ExecuJet Haite holds authorizations to work on Gulfstream, Embraer, and Dassault Falcon business jets.
After 10 years in Tianjin, the facility was filling up, prompting the company to consider other locations before settling on Daxing International Airport in the Beijing area. While construction was delayed by the Covid pandemic, ExecuJet Haite’s new facility opened in the third quarter last year and recently obtained approval from the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-03-03/execujet-haites-daxing-mro-awarded-part-145-approval">Civil Aviation Administration of China</a>. “Just now we have our first customer in the hangar, and the second is coming next week,” Desgrosseilliers told AIN.&nbsp;
Even before opening the Daxing facility, ExecuJet Haite’s business was on the upswing, with 20% percent year-over-year growth in 2024 versus 2023. “We’re expecting higher numbers in 2025 now that Daxing is fully online,” he said. While acknowledging that the China business aviation fleet has shrunk in recent years, he said those remaining are getting older and need more maintenance, including heavy inspections that are costly events due to the high amount of labor required. “Our facilities are on par with those anywhere in the world,” he stated, and some operators are bringing their airplanes in for maintenance from outside of China.
<h2>Stable Maintenance Costs in China</h2>
The company has found that its cost structure in China is stable. “Our labor costs are up just a bit but not at the higher levels of inflation [that other countries are experiencing.]," Desgrosseilliers,said.&nbsp;Of course, ExecuJet Haite, like other maintenance, repair and overhaul companies, isn’t immune to other expenses of the business that have grown such as hangar liability insurance, airport fees, and parts.&nbsp;
“Our workforce is highly skilled and well educated, and all of our engineers have bachelor’s degrees," Desgrosseilliers, explained. "The typical maintenance career path in China is getting a degree, and it does turn out a good talent pool.”
ExecuJet Haite also has low to no turnover of personnel, which ensures retention of critical knowledge. “If we can retain staff and build that knowledge base, we’re head and shoulders above a lot of facilities,” Desgrosseilliers said. “Across the industry, everybody is facing human resource issues, but I don’t have those. I’d put my entire workforce up against anybody in the world.”
The BAAFEx show in Singapore this week is a key venue for ExecuJet Haite to hold meetings with regional partners. “It’s an opportunity to meet face to face,” Desgrosseilliers said, “and a good time to do that. We are also here to meet existing customers, the majority of large Chinese operators are here. But we also want to introduce ExecuJet Haite to new customers. There are some new operators in the region, and we’re looking to expand the business.”

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Maintenance Provider ExecuJet Haite Extends Outreach to Customers at BAAFEx

Company's new MRO facility at Beijing Daxing Airport is already filling up

Even before opening the Daxing facility, ExecuJet Haite’s business was on the upswing, with 20% percent year-over-year growth in 2024 versus 2023. 

ExecuJet Haite Extends MRO Client Outreach at BAAFEx Show

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AmyWilder

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Retrofit increases the turboprop twin's power and fuel efficiency

FAA Certifies XP67A Engine STC for King Air 350i/360

Curt Epstein

Established in 2022, Plane Place Aviation’s business has already outgrown its facility

Texas Repair Center Expands to Larger Hangar

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Macon-Bibb’s new aviation facility supports aircraft conversions, expects 50 employees by end of 2025

Slate Aviation Opens 80,000-sq-ft MRO Facility in Georgia

Fly Across MRO to service models including Phenom, Praetor, and Legacy models

Embraer Expands Authorized MRO Network in Mexico

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

French manufacturer approves Daxing maintenance base as authorized service center for Falcons

Dassault Expands ExecuJet Haite’s Falcon Support in China 

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

The purchase gives PrimeFlight its first business outside North America

Acquisition Gives PrimeFlight Services European Option

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

BAAFEx 2025

In this article

Dassault

More In Maintenance and Modifications

FAA Certifies XP67A Engine STC for King Air 350i/360

Retrofit increases the turboprop twin's power and fuel efficiency

Texas Repair Center Expands to Larger Hangar

Established in 2022, Plane Place Aviation’s business has already outgrown its facility

Slate Aviation Opens 80,000-sq-ft MRO Facility in Georgia

Macon-Bibb’s new aviation facility supports aircraft conversions, expects 50 employees by end of 2025

Embraer Expands Authorized MRO Network in Mexico

Fly Across MRO to service models including Phenom, Praetor, and Legacy models

Dassault Expands ExecuJet Haite’s Falcon Support in China

French manufacturer approves Daxing maintenance base as authorized service center for Falcons

Acquisition Gives PrimeFlight Services European Option

The purchase gives PrimeFlight its first business outside North America

ExecuJet Haite’s Daxing MRO Awarded Part 145 Approval

Approval covers line and base maintenance work on multiple business aircraft

Fargo Jet Center Eyes Growth with New MRO Facility

The company inaugurated its first purpose-built maintenance facility late last year

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN