AAR Corp. has acquired HAECO Americas from HAECO Group, expanding its heavy maintenance capacity and further strengthening its position as the largest independent aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider in North America.
The deal, announced November 4, 2025, includes HAECO’s two major heavy maintenance facilities in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Lake City, Florida. Together, they employ more than 1,600 people and serve leading commercial airlines with airframe maintenance and modification work. AAR said the acquisition supports its plan to expand maintenance operations and meet rising demand from airline customers.
AAR paid $78 million for the business and said it has already secured new multi-year maintenance contracts with key airline customers worth more than $850 million. Those agreements “effectively sell out the two HAECO Americas facilities,” said AAR Chairman, President, and CEO John Holmes.
“AAR has become the most sought-after heavy maintenance provider in North America, and we are excited to extend our leadership position with the acquisition of HAECO Americas,” Holmes said. “Over the last few years, we have significantly invested in training, lean initiatives, and proprietary technology to enhance quality and efficiency in our MRO operations. These efforts have resulted in reduced turn-around times for our customers, higher employee retention, and meaningful increases to operating margins.”
Holmes added that AAR expects to “apply our successful model to the HAECO Americas facilities and significantly improve profitability and operational performance.”
The move comes amid a continuing shortage of heavy maintenance capacity across the aviation industry. Airlines have struggled to find available MRO slots in North America, where demand has outpaced supply following fleet growth and deferred maintenance during the Covid-19 pandemic. AAR said its existing US facilities in Miami, Oklahoma City, and Indianapolis are nearly at capacity, with most heavy maintenance slots sold out for years in advance.
In a statement, AAR said the new facilities “will allow us to further optimize our North American footprint, which we expect will lead to incremental margin expansion overall for our Repair & Engineering segment as we execute the integration.”
Tom Hoferer, AAR’s Senior Vice President of Repair & Engineering, emphasized the addition of HAECO’s workforce as a key advantage. “We are pleased to welcome the talented HAECO Americas team to AAR,” he said. “Our strong safety culture, partnerships with educational institutions, and focus on career development have made AAR the premier employer for aviation technicians. We look forward to combining with the HAECO Americas team to deliver outstanding service to our customers.”
HAECO Americas, formerly part of the Hong Kong-based HAECO Group, was the second-largest heavy maintenance provider in North America behind AAR. Its facilities in North Carolina and Florida bring significant hangar capacity and technical expertise to AAR’s network. About 30% of HAECO’s US workforce are military veterans, according to AAR.
Founded in 1950, HAECO Group has grown into a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul leader and is marking its 75th anniversary this year. The company has built a broad international footprint across the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, and Europe, with HAECO Americas serving as its key US operation until the acquisition by AAR.
AAR said the deal may have a small short-term impact on profit margins, but expects efficiency gains once HAECO’s operations are fully integrated. The company aims for the two facilities to match the performance of its existing maintenance network.
The acquisition continues AAR’s pattern of growth through targeted expansion and strategic acquisitions. In recent years, the Illinois-based company has invested in new facilities and technology to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and position itself for long-term growth in the competitive MRO market.
Headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, AAR supports commercial and government customers in more than 20 countries through its four operating segments: Parts Supply, Repair & Engineering, Integrated Solutions, and Expeditionary Services.
