Aviatic MRO set to open Europe’s largest aircraft maintenance facility

An investment of 20m Euros is aimed at creating one of the largest aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Europe.

Aviatic MRO will begin work early in 2020 to transform the 23,000 square meter Šiauliai International Airport, in Lithuania and bring 1,000 high-skilled aviation technician jobs to the region. The company will provide maintenance services for the Airbus A320, Boeing 737 Classic and Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, including D-checks, management of assets and parking.

Šiauliai International Airport is located 3 hours from all major European hub airports, and boasts one of the longest runways in the Baltics. It has all of the necessary equipment to handle the biggest planes in the world.

The CEO of Aviatic MRO Arturas Liudkevicius said: „Air traffic is growing worldwide and there is more demand than ever for top quality MRO services. Lithuania is an ideal location close to some of the busiest flight hubs in the world.“

In October Aviatic MRO signed a cooperation agreement with the international aircraft rental company World Star Aviation, which owns nearly 100 aircraft.

While Aviatic MRO is expected to begin its full-service operations in 2021, all equipment necessary for small-scale aircraft repairs has already been acquired This means Šiauliai can begin taking orders for minor repairs in the next few months A state of the art hangar will be constructed meaning all types of MRO work will be possible from 2021.

The hangar will have space for 8 aircraft bodies. It will include a workshop area, storing facilities, metal manufacturing, and repair, as well as brake repair facilities, painting areas, warehousing, and administration. Because Šiauliai Airport can accommodate up to 30 aircraft simultaneously more planes can be serviced and maintained simultaneously. Space restrictions limit the number of planes that can be worked on at many European MRO sites.