Lithuanian charter airline company and Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) provider, GetJet Airlines, has announced plans to develop a new MRO facility at Vilnius International Airport.

GetJet has been granted rights to a 4,664 sqm plot at the Lithuanian airport for a 40-year period, where it plans to develop the new facility to enhance its in-house technical capabilities.

It is set to invest €10 million to develop the new MRO facility between 2025 and 2028, and its design and construction are set to begin soon, with the first aircraft expected to undergo maintenance at the site by 2028.

Inga Duglas, chief executive of GetJet Airlines, said: “Establishing our own MRO facility marks a significant step in expanding our ability to support our fleet independently, ensuring unmatched operational flexibility. Currently, we can mobilise within 1.5 hours of request confirmation and conduct over 500 ad-hoc operations annually, positioning GetJet Airlines as the ‘Task Force of Aviation.’ This investment further strengthens our self-sufficiency and enhances operational reliability for our clients,”

The project is expected to create approximately 50 new job and reinforce GetJet’s technical expertise, as well as support the expansion of its operations, partly in response to a global MRO shortage.

According to Darius VIltrakis, chief executive of GetJet Aviation Holdings, MRO capacity constraints and reliance on external providers have increasingly become concerns for the aviation industry, as wait times continue to rise despite global MRO infrastructure functioning at full capacity,

A 2024 study by global managing consulting firm, Bain & Company, reported that maintenance timelines for next-generation engines have increased by 150%, while older molds require 35% more servicing time compared to pre-pandemic levels. Because of new aircraft delivery delays, airlines must also keep aging aircraft in service longer which continues to drive up maintenance demand.

The global commercial airline fleet is projected to increase by 32%, from just over 29,000 in 2025 to 38,000 aircraft by 2035, and by investing in a new MRO facility, GetJet will be in an ideal position to capitalise on the growing market.

“Owning our own hangar and reducing dependence on third-party MRO providers is a major competitive advantage. It allows us to maintain our fleet more effectively, improve operational flexibility, and adapt swiftly to growing industry demand,” said Viltrakis.