China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou) has begun construction on an MRO and cargo base at Urumqi, with total investment exceeding CNY1.6 billion yuan (USD234 million). The project forms part of a central government support scheme for the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and is due for completion and entry into service in 2028.

The maintenance zone will include a 65,991-square-metre hangar, set to be the biggest civil aviation hangar in northwestern China. The phase-one cargo area will span about 60,000 square metres, with more than 20,000 square metres of terminal space for domestic and international freight.