Airhub Aviation Managing Director Oleg Novak
Airhub Aviation is the asset management and maintenance arm of Lithuanian wet-lease provider GetJet Aviation, which specializes in mid- to end-of-life narrowbodies. GetJet just announced a new €10 million ($10.8 million) MRO facility at Vilnius, which will be operational from 2028. Aviation Week Network caught up with Airhub Aviation Managing Director Oleg Novak to hear about developments at the company’s newest MRO facilities at Siauliai International Airport in Lithuania, which opened in fall 2024.
What is Airhub Aviation's focus, and how will GetJet's new Vilnius MRO facility fit in with your Lithuanian MRO?
Airhub Aviation’s journey began in 2019, initially focusing on spare parts supply and repair management. Over the years, we have expanded our capabilities to include line maintenance, CAMO [continuing airworthiness management organization] and aircraft transitions. However, to achieve full technical control and flexibility, a dedicated full-scale MRO facility was the missing piece. We see a clear niche in the market: airlines and lessors are extending the lifespan of aircraft, rather than replacing them. By establishing our MRO facility in Lithuania, we are strategically positioned to meet this growing need.
The new Vilnius MRO facility is directly operated by GetJet Airlines. Both GetJet Airlines and Airhub Aviation operate under GetJet Aviation Holdings. However, their MRO facilities serve distinct purposes. Airhub Aviation’s MRO focuses on external clients, whereas GetJet Airlines’ Vilnius MRO will be exclusively dedicated to maintaining and servicing GetJet Airlines' own fleet. Our primary focus now, as Airhub Aviation, is on the full-scale ramp-up of our MRO at Siauliai International Airport (SQQ).
When did you establish the SQQ facility and what are its capabilities?
The Siauliai facility was completed in 2023. Airhub Aviation has the long-term lease for the hangar facility and managed to secure the approvals for this location before the beginning of this MRO high season. Full-scale operations started in autumn 2024. Our ambition is to become one of the leading MRO providers in the region.
It is one of the most modern MRO centers in Northeastern Europe, with capacity to accommodate five narrowbody aircraft simultaneously or one widebody and two narrowbodies, including models up to the size of a Boeing 747-8, Airbus A350-1000 or similar. This 183,000 ft.2 facility serves as a one-stop-shop for maintenance services, offering warehouses, workshops and office space. The airport itself features two of the longest runways in the region (3.5 km [2.17 mi.] each) and operates as a dual-use civilian and NATO military facility, ensuring 24/7 access and high-security infrastructure. With well-developed transport links and proximity to major airline hubs, SQQ is an ideal location.
Our base maintenance approval covers the [Airbus] A320ceo family, including C checks. [Boeing] 737NG approval is on the way, and we anticipate adding it to our capabilities during 2025. Additionally, we have line maintenance and out-of-scope maintenance for legacy platforms, such as 737 Classics, 737NGs, A330s and A340s, as well as for neos, like the A320neo and A330neo. Engine ratings give us the possibility to perform full back-to-back borescope inspections on [CFM International] CFM56 and IAE V2500 engines. Since we were fueled by ACMI airlines, we have a strong competitive advantage on cabin retrofits, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-compliant modifications and various other mods.
What work have you handled at SQQ so far?
During our first season, we completed over 17 maintenance inductions, including seven heavy maintenance checks on A320ceo aircraft, as well as various smaller maintenance events, including engine swaps, landing gear replacements, layout of passenger acommodation changes and aircraft modifications required to import aircraft into the EASA environment. We also have an expansion plan for CAMO, transition and repair management services. Currently, the company supports eight CAMO clients, manages five line stations and oversees component repair management for over 100 customers.
How does Airhub Aviation fit with your parent company, GetJet Aviation Holdings?
Airhub Aviation plays a crucial role within our group. Having an MRO as a part of an asset management company provides a strong competitive advantage in today’s market. We can manage all fleet-related transactions, provide airworthiness management, perform line maintenance at our home base and outstations, as well as exclusively supervise all the rotable components repairs.
What are your MRO growth plans, and will SQQ be open to third-party work?
We are targeting up to 50 inductions annually in the next few years, focusing on mid-life and end-of-life narrowbody aircraft types, such as the A320 and 737NG. We will gradually expand our services to neo and MAX models. For neo aircraft, we plan to introduce engine swaps and out-of-phase maintenance capabilities.
During our first season, we focused on providing maintenance services to GetJet’s fleet, as well as various lessors and airlines, refining our processes and optimizing workforce capacity. Having successfully completed this trial phase, we are now fully confident in our capabilities and ready to expand our services to a broader third-party fleet. Group-wise, we own or manage around 20 aircraft in total, including both A320 family and 737-800s, that bring a base load for MRO activities, as well as providing continued support to our partner airlines and lessors. Part of our strategy is to always keep an ad-hoc bay in the hangar facility for last-minute inductions. That will be a great benefit for repossessed aircraft, delivery projects and engine swaps.
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