1. Upgraded Paint Facility
Company: HAECO Americas
Product: HAECO Americas added aircraft painting services at its Lake City, Florida, MRO facility in early 2022 to support its North American airline partners and its passenger-to-freighter conversion services. It provides complete paint stripping, scruff-sanding and new topcoat services in its upgraded Hangar 9. The facility’s modifications include new divider curtains, climate-controlled paint storage and upgraded heating and fire-suppression systems. HAECO also is improving its wastewater treatment system, which it expects to complete this year. It specializes in painting single-aisle aircraft, but the MRO provider has painted twin-aisle aircraft such as the Boeing 767-400. HAECO is considering paint services for large commercial and regional jets as well. It also is exploring the addition of a second painting line.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/haeco-americas
2. Growing Global Presence
Company: International Aerospace Coatings
Product: International Aerospace Coatings (IAC) is on a growth spurt following its acquisition by private equity firm Tiger Infrastructure Partners at the end of 2022. It plans to open a new widebody paint hangar at Teruel Airport in Spain, which will be the first facility at the airport to offer paint services. It expects to create up to 80 jobs once the facility is fully operational, planned for the third quarter of this year. IAC is headquartered in Shannon, Ireland, with a U.S. base in Irvine, California. It also operates 18 hangars across locations in Europe and the U.S. The company says it is actively looking for new growth opportunities as demand for painting services has soared as the pandemic declines.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/international-aerospace-coatings
3. Sustainable Services
Company: MAAS Aviation
Product: MAAS Aviation offers aircraft painting services to airlines, OEMs, lessors, MROs and private operators. It operates 11 narrowbody paint shops across the U.S. and Europe, including its new twin-bay narrowbody paint shop at Kaunas Airport in Lithuania, which opened in 2021. It says the Kaunas facility has boosted its capacity in Europe by around 40%. MAAS Aviation has implemented several sustainability initiatives across its business, including the ongoing installation of a new wastewater treatment plant at the Kaunas facility. The plant will process chemical waste and separate water from contaminants, which are turned into dry waste that is easier to dispose of. MAAS Aviation appointed Jan van Engelen as its new CEO in March to oversee the company’s “strategic plan to drive sustainable growth,” according to an announcement.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/maas-aviation
4. Young and Ambitious
Company: MRO Iberoamerica
Product: Based at Plan de Guadalupe International Airport in Mexico, MRO Iberoamerica provides aircraft paint services to all of the major Mexican airlines, including Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris. It also has painted some executive jets and aircraft for international airlines, such as Air Zimbabwe and Freight Runners Express. It specializes in painting regional and narrowbody aircraft, including the Embraer 145, Saab 340, Airbus A320 and A321, and Boeing 737 family. Despite being a relatively young MRO, CEO Rafael Gomez Miaja says MRO Iberoamerica is “becoming an interesting alternative to some of the top players in the U.S.” due to high quality standards and cost-competitiveness. It is currently in conversations with international customers throughout the Americas.
