Japan Airlines (JAL) has commenced construction of a new state-of-the-art landing gear maintenance facility within the Haneda Airport Maintenance District, marking a significant investment in next-generation MRO infrastructure. The project, which broke ground on May 19, 2026, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027 and is expected to strengthen JAL’s position as a leading global provider of landing gear maintenance services.
As part of the initiative, JAL has also established a new company, Landing Gear Innovation Factory Co., Ltd. (LIF), which will manage the real estate assets associated with the new facility. The investment reflects the airline’s long-term strategy to enhance maintenance capabilities, improve operational efficiency, and address growing global demand for specialised landing gear overhaul services.
Landing gear systems are among the most critical and technically complex components of an aircraft, supporting take-off, landing, and ground operations. Their overhaul maintenance, typically conducted once every decade, involves complete removal from the aircraft and requires highly specialised processes including plating, thermal spraying, surface treatment, painting, and advanced non-destructive inspection techniques.
JAL has been performing landing gear maintenance for large commercial aircraft for more than five decades and has developed one of the world’s most advanced capabilities in this segment. The new facility will consolidate maintenance functions currently spread across multiple locations while introducing automation technologies, labour-saving systems, and advanced equipment, several of which will be deployed in Japan for the first time.
The project is expected to deliver multiple strategic benefits, including the preservation and transfer of critical technical expertise to the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals, significant improvements in productivity and quality through advanced manufacturing technologies, and a reduction in environmental impact through the development of an energy-efficient facility.
Landing gear maintenance operations will continue to be carried out primarily by JAL Engineering Co., Ltd. (JALEC), the maintenance arm responsible for aircraft maintenance across the JAL Group. Together, JAL, JALEC, and LIF aim to support the safety and reliability of aircraft operations in Japan and internationally while contributing to the continued growth of the country’s aviation maintenance industry.
The development highlights the increasing importance of specialised component MRO capabilities as airlines and maintenance providers worldwide invest in advanced infrastructure to support expanding fleets and long-term aircraft lifecycle management requirements.
