AAR Corp. opened an expanded airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Miami International Airport on August 17, adding more than 100,000 square feet of hangar capacity and 200 full-time positions to its South Florida operation.
The Illinois-headquartered aviation aftermarket company marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the airport. The expanded building supports three heavy maintenance lines and is expected to induct its first aircraft this autumn. AAR built the facility to meet the maintenance capacity requirements of a long-term commercial airline customer.
The project enlarges an airframe MRO operation AAR already runs at the airport. Development involved the airport, Ryan Companies, HPM, and federal, state and local partners.
"The expansion of our Airframe MRO facility in Miami reflects both the strength of our operations and the confidence customers place in AAR to deliver quality and reliability," said John M. Holmes, chairman, president and chief executive officer of AAR. Holmes said the company expects to keep growing alongside its airline customers while improving its ability to meet their evolving maintenance needs.
AAR is staffing the 200 new roles through its workforce development pipeline and partnerships with local educational institutions.
The opening lands during a period of tight heavy maintenance capacity in North America. Airlines have extended the service lives of older narrowbody aircraft as deliveries of replacement jets run behind schedule, sending more airframes into scheduled heavy checks. Independent MRO providers have answered by adding hangar lines and competing for certificated mechanics in a labor market where technician supply trails demand.
AAR operates in more than 20 countries through three segments: Parts Supply; Repair, Engineering, and Software; and Government Solutions. The company reported third-party MRO growth as a driver of its aftermarket business heading into the current fiscal year.
Source: AviTrader Aviation News - https://avitrader.com/2026/08/18/aar-adds-three-heavy-maintenance-lines-with-miami-mro-expansion/