Charter airline GetJet last month announced plans to develop a multi-million-euro maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Vilnius International Airport.
The Lithuanian carrier is set to invest €10mn (US$11.3mn) in the project over the next three years, with the first aircraft expected to undergo maintenance at the site in 2028.
The announcement comes after Lithuanian Airports, which manages Vilnius, granted GetJet the rights to a nearly 4,700 square-metre plot for a 40-year period. The airline expects to create around 50 new jobs with the new facility.
Inga Duglas, the newly appointed CEO of GetJet, told Airline Routes & Ground Services: “Our new facility is set to become a modern MRO centre that will significantly enhance our in-house technical capabilities.
“This investment boosts our self-sufficiency and helps us deliver an even more reliable service to our airline partners.”
She said the new facility will meet the maintenance needs of GetJet’s existing fleet with capabilities tailored specifically to the types of aircraft it operates, including engine changes, LG changes, various modifications and light base maintenance checks.
GetJet’s sister company Airhub Aviation will also expand its capabilities by enhancing in-house repair shops to improve heavy maintenance services.
“The decision to invest in our own MRO facility was a proactive move designed to deliver even greater value to our airline partners,” said Duglas.
“Globally, MRO infrastructure is operating at full capacity with wait times for maintenance services continuing to rise.
“At the same time, delivery delays for new aircraft are forcing airlines to keep older fleets in service longer, which naturally increases maintenance needs.”
“Our new MRO facility at Vilnius is our way to address the global MRO shortage and take control – decreasing dependency on overstretched third-party providers.”
She added that “investing in in-house MRO capabilities gives us a major competitive advantage”, including “faster turnaround, more flexibility and consistently high service quality”.
The MRO centre will also allow GetJet to “stay flexible and responsive” to customers’ needs, said Duglas. “In charter operations, timing is everything,” she added.
The facility is expected to contribute to GetJet’s vertical growth, supporting the charter airline’s long-term strategy to expand via its service offering, which includes asset management and technical operations.
