SkyWest Airlines to Open New MRO Facility in Salina, Kansas
US regional carrier SkyWest Airlines plans to establish a new in-house maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) base at Salina, Kansas, further strengthening its technical and operational footprint in the central United States. The facility is expected to open in early spring 2026, according to the airline.
The project has received approximately USD 750,000 in financial support from a combination of state, county, and city-level government agencies, highlighting the importance of the investment to the local economy. While SkyWest has not disclosed specific details regarding the size, staffing levels, or technical capabilities of the new facility, the funding suggests a focus on creating skilled aviation maintenance jobs and supporting long-term regional development.
SkyWest currently operates as the sole airline serving Salina, providing essential air links to major US hubs including Chicago O’Hare International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Denver International Airport. These flights are operated on behalf of United Airlines under the United Express brand, making Salina a strategically important spoke in SkyWest’s regional network.
The decision to locate the MRO base in Salina aligns with SkyWest’s broader strategy of expanding in-house maintenance capabilities to support fleet reliability, cost control, and operational resilience. As one of the largest regional airlines in North America, SkyWest operates hundreds of regional jets across multiple partner airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. In-house maintenance facilities play a critical role in ensuring aircraft availability while reducing reliance on third-party providers.
Although SkyWest has not specified which aircraft types will be supported at the Salina facility, the airline’s fleet primarily comprises Embraer E175s and Bombardier CRJ-series aircraft. Either type would be well suited to a regional maintenance base in the Midwest, where positioning aircraft for scheduled checks can be done efficiently without disrupting revenue operations.
For Salina, the new MRO base represents a significant diversification beyond commercial passenger services. Maintenance facilities typically provide stable, high-skilled employment and generate secondary economic benefits through training, supply chains, and infrastructure investment. Local officials have positioned the project as a long-term partnership rather than a short-term incentive-driven development.
The move also reflects a broader trend among regional airlines to bring more maintenance work in-house as fleets standardise and competition for qualified technicians intensifies. By investing in Salina, SkyWest is not only strengthening its operational backbone but also reinforcing the airport’s role as a critical aviation asset in central Kansas.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com