Magnetic MRO is expanding its painting services in Tallinn, Estonia, in response to growing demand driven by aging fleets, extended aircraft leases and a post-pandemic backlog of painting events.
The company will now offer painting services in Tallinn year-round, where it previously only offered painting services during the summer season.
“Up until now, our capacity has been regularly occupied with serving up to 10 aircraft per summer season. This expansion will allow us to increase this number to approximately 250% annually,” says Rihards Priedkalns, painting department manager at Magnetic MRO.
Aavo Kuus, business development manager at Magnetic MRO, tells Aviation Week Network the addition of more maintenance hangars at the company’s base in Tallinn has allowed it to increase aircraft painting capacity.
“Due to the aging fleet and extended aircraft leases, there is a higher demand for maintenance, including painting,” says Kuus. “A few years ago, when the whole industry was affected by COVID-19, painting events were usually postponed, as this service was something nice to have but not a priority. Now, the market has changed, and aircraft that are long due for a nice livery are back in the hangars, getting a new and fresh look.”
In preparation for the increased painting services, Priedkalns says Magnetic MRO plans to expand its painting team by adding approximately 15 new painters. Last year, the company renovated its 2,852 m2 (approximately 30,700 ft.2) paint hangar, which can accommodate all narrowbodies. Magnetic MRO offers painting of commercial and VIP aircraft, chemical and mechanical stripping, livery neutralization and other paint-related services in Tallinn.
Magnetic MRO says slots will be available starting from the first quarter of 2026. “We have customers fully booked for the next winter season,” says Kuus. He adds that Magnetic still has some painting slots left, so interested customers should secure those quickly, “as the number of available slots during prime time between November and March is already running low. Currently, the primary focus is closing all gaps for the summer with cargo airlines and customers who are not so dependent on the summer season and are operations-dependent.”
Priedkalns says Magnetic MRO sees highest painting demand for Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft. “As for these aircraft types, we hold a Part 145 certificate and can perform extensive maintenance on them. However, our team also has vast experience in painting other aircraft types such as [the] ATR 72, Bombardier CRJ and Global, Embraer 120 and 195 Legacy, Saab 340 and others,” he says.
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