UK Aircraft Painting Specialist Eyes 'Strategic Opportunity' At Teesside

Aircraft painting specialist Airbourne Colours says its recently announced plans for a third UK facility represent a strategic opportunity to cater for existing and new airline customers.

Last month, the company confirmed plans to establish a new aircraft painting facility at England's Teesside International Airport from late 2024. The investment in the 27,000-ft.² site is estimated at around £6.5 million ($8.1 million).

Steve Darbyshire, founder and chief executive of Airbourne Colours, says the expansion of the business to Teesside holds personal resonance, having his roots in the local region. He believes the new facility will give the region a paint location for existing customers and positions Airbourne Colours to attract new ones seeking paint services. “While catering to our current customer base, we anticipate welcoming new clients,” he told Aviation Week.

Located around 30 mi. south of Newcastle, the facility will give the company a presence in the north of England. Its existing facilities are currently located at East Midlands Airport near Derby, where it operates two paint bays accommodating aircraft up to Airbus A321.

It also operates a paint facility at Exeter Airport in the southwest of England, where it caters for regional and smaller business jets. “Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, both locations have experienced robust demand, aligning with the industry's recovery trends,” Darbyshire says.

Existing airline customers include the likes of British LCCs EasyJet and Jet2, Scottish carrier Loganair, leisure airline TUI, Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines.

Upon making the announcement, the company outlined plans to create 40 new positions at the site, which would add to its current UK workforce total of more than 150 people.

Darbyshire envisages these positions being a mix of roles “across management, shop floor, stores and administrative areas.” He adds, “Initially, sourcing may include a mix, but our long-term objective is prioritising local talent as skill levels align with our needs.”

After a pandemic-induced slump in passenger numbers, Teesside International Airport has since been on a upward trajectory and reported approximately 178,523 passengers in the first nine months of last year.

The likes of KLM, Loganair and Ryanair operate flights from the airport, while carriers such as BH Air, Eastern Airways and German carrier TUI Airways run seasonal routes.

On-site MRO activity at Teesside includes a facility operated by U.S.-headquartered lessor Willis Lease Finance Corp. under its Willis Aviation Services division.