MAAS Aviation partners with FL Technics to create world class re-delivery centre in Kaunas, Lithuania

Following a multi-million Euro investment, MAAS Aviation, recognised experts in aircraft painting and exterior coatings, has opened a new purpose-built paint shop at Kaunas Airport (KUN) in Lithuania, adjacent to FL Technics’ MRO facilities. Combining base maintenance, painting and parking/storage in one location is an attractive proposition for leasing companies. It minimises aircraft ground time which offers economic value and less complexity for lessors.

MAAS Aviation’s ultra-modern Lithuanian facility is a twin-bay narrow body paint shop capable of accommodating up to two A321 sized aircraft simultaneously and is the first of its kind in Lithuania. It grows the Company’s global footprint to eleven best-in-class paint shops and increases their overall MRO capacity in Europe by 40%.

The 40% increase in MAAS Aviation’s European MRO capacity enables the Company to service more airlines and lessors particularly during peak seasons. The MRO repainting sector is normally cyclical with winter peaks and for many years MAAS has juggled capacity constraints during these periods due to demand from its long-term contracted customers. “Demand for our paint shops has always exceeded supply, so this additional capacity supports our growth ambitions and represents a logical next step for us” says Tim Macdougald, CEO – MAAS Aviation. “Our partnership with FL Technics will enable us to combine services for the benefit of airline and leasing company customers that value technologically and environmentally advanced facilities. Together we can offer an outstanding aircraft asset redelivery centre-of-excellence.”

“As we are headquartered in Lithuania we are excited to be in a position to help MAAS Aviation launch their brand new facility in Kaunas.“, states Zilvinas Lapinskas, CEO – FL Technics. “Integrations with trusted partners, such as MAAS Aviation, to deliver complex MRO (base maintenance) services, covering nose-to-tail aircraft delivery, painting and remarketing projects is a key focus for us from 2021 onwards“ adds Saulius Bajarunas, COO – FL Technics.

In the build up to establishing this new facility MAAS Aviation has experienced a dynamic growth trajectory surpassing 180% over the past six years. In 2015 the Company had three paint shops in two locations and 130 aircraft were painted. In 2021, MAAS has eleven paint shops (three in Hamburg; two in Kaunas; two in Maastricht; one at Fokker Woensdrecht; and three in Mobile, Alabama) and the Company  forecasts painting up to 300 aircraft.

All MAAS paint shops are operated to OEM standards of performance and it is one of the top three aircraft painting specialist companies worldwide. From a lessor’s perspective, combining painting with the other base maintenance capabilities offered by FL Technics offers a streamlined experience, including the management and co-ordination of aircraft redeliveries which is expected to take on an increased relevance post COVID-19 due to the number of aircraft likely to change operator.

Macdougald goes on to say “We consider ourselves to be up there with the best in our industry. We operate well established processes and systems, with in-house expertise in design, project management, fitout & training. We will continue to invest in infrastructure, like we have done in Kaunas, Lithuania, provided the investment can be supported by a credible business case. COVID-19 has not dampened our ambition as we are currently exploring a variety of other expansion opportunities with respected partners which play to our strengths to deliver our world class services across a wider global footprint. The continued growth of MAAS Aviation is a good news story which, let‘s face it, our industry needs in view of what it has been through this past year.”