Independent aircraft maintenance providers are increasingly outperforming airline- and government-run maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations as demand for aircraft servicing surges worldwide, according to FL Technics.
With the global commercial fleet forecast to grow by 28% to more than 36,000 aircraft by 2034, airlines are facing mounting pressure to secure efficient and reliable maintenance capacity.
Privately owned MROs are benefiting from this shift, offering faster turnaround times, more flexible contracts and streamlined decision-making.
Žilvinas Lapinskas, chief executive of FL Technics Group — which is building the first independent heavy maintenance hangar in the Dominican Republic — said airlines are increasingly seeking partners capable of adapting quickly to demand.
“Aircraft MRO worldwide faces maintenance overload. Bureaucracy often slows down service as major airline-owned MROs must prioritise their own fleets,” he said.
“Independent MRO providers, by contrast, can prioritise all clients equally and deliver faster, more responsive maintenance solutions.”
Lapinskas described independent providers as “open and collaborative ecosystems” that airlines are turning to when in-house capacity is full.
FL Technics’ new Punta Cana facility will provide heavy maintenance for Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family aircraft. The company plans to dedicate up to 500 man-hours per bay daily and apply its global maintenance planning system to improve efficiency and reduce turnaround times.
“We chose Punta Cana because it combines proximity to clients, excellent airport infrastructure and legal stability — all essential for independent MROs aiming to stay competitive,” Lapinskas added.
Based in Lithuania, FL Technics operates MRO facilities in Europe and Asia and is part of Avia Solutions Group, one of the world’s largest ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) providers.
