MRO & Manufacturing
Kuehne+Nagel Acquires Eastway to Expand Aerospace Logistics Services
Kuehne+Nagel plans to acquire Eastway, enhancing its aerospace logistics expertise and market presence globally by end of 2025.
Kuehne+Nagel Acquires Eastway: A Strategic Move to Deepen Aerospace Logistics Dominance
In the high-stakes world of global logistics, strategic acquisitions are the chess moves that define market leaders. On November 3, 2025, Kuehne+Nagel, a titan in the transport and logistics industry, announced its intention to acquire Eastway Global Forwarding Ltd., a specialized leader in aerospace logistics. This move is not just another corporate merger; it represents a calculated step to reinforce Kuehne+Nagel’s foothold in one of the most complex and rapidly growing sectors of the global supply chain.
The aerospace industry operates on a foundation of precision, speed, and reliability. From multi-million-dollar jet engines to critical spare parts needed to keep an aircraft flying, the logistics underpinning this sector are extraordinarily demanding. The acquisition brings together Kuehne+Nagel’s immense global network and resources with Eastway’s deep, niche expertise. As we break down the details, it becomes clear that this partnership is designed to create a formidable, end-to-end service provider for manufacturers, Airlines, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies, and the burgeoning aviation leasing market.
This development aligns perfectly with Kuehne+Nagel’s long-term growth strategy, which focuses on targeted “bolt-on” acquisitions to enhance its service portfolio in key markets. By integrating Eastway, the company isn’t just expanding its size; it’s acquiring specialized knowledge and a proven track record in time-critical services, positioning itself to capitalize on the significant growth projected for the aerospace market in the coming decade.
Analyzing the Strategic Rationale
The decision to acquire Eastway is rooted in a clear understanding of market dynamics and future opportunities. The global aerospace logistics service market is on a strong upward trajectory, fueled by increasing global air traffic and a corresponding rise in aircraft production and maintenance needs. This acquisition is a direct response to that growth, aiming to capture a larger share of a high-value market.
Capitalizing on a Booming Aerospace Sector
The numbers paint a compelling picture. The global aerospace logistics market, valued at approximately USD 132.65 billion in 2023, is projected to more than double by 2031. This growth is driven by the intricate supply chains required for MRO activities and the complex transportation of sensitive, high-value components like engines and Avionics. The industry demands more than just transport; it requires specialized providers who understand the urgency and technicalities involved.
A key area of Eastway’s expertise is the aviation leasing industry, a segment that now owns over half of the global aviation fleet. This sub-sector is forecasted to experience explosive growth, expanding from a value of USD 187.1 billion in 2024 to a staggering USD 565.1 billion by 2034. By acquiring a company with deep roots and a strong reputation within this niche, Kuehne+Nagel gains immediate credibility and access to a critical and lucrative client base.
Furthermore, Eastway’s specialization in Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) situations is a significant asset. An AOG event, where a plane is grounded due to a technical issue, costs airlines immense sums in lost revenue and operational disruption. Eastway’s proven ability to deliver critical parts with extreme speed and reliability is a highly valuable service that complements Kuehne+Nagel’s existing capabilities, creating a more robust and responsive offering for airline clients worldwide.
“The acquisition supports our targeted bolt-on acquisition strategy by strengthening our aerospace logistics offering globally and accelerating our growth ambitions in the fast-developing aerospace industry.” – Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board at Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics.
A Meeting of Strengths: Global Scale Meets Niche Expertise
This Acquisitions is a textbook example of synergistic growth. Kuehne+Nagel, founded in 1890, is a global logistics powerhouse with nearly 85,000 employees across 1,300 sites in close to 100 countries. For over three decades, its specialized aerospace division has offered a certified portfolio of services, including its well-regarded KN EngineChain and KN SparesChain solutions. The company brings a vast global network, advanced technology, and immense operational capacity to the table.
On the other side, Eastway Global Forwarding, a private, family-owned company founded in 2001, brings a different kind of strength. Headquartered in Limerick, Europe, its founder’s background as a qualified Flight Engineer has embedded a unique synergy of technical knowledge and freight forwarding experience into the company’s DNA. This allows Eastway to provide highly specialized, time-critical services with a level of precision that has earned it a loyal client base among leading aviation leasing firms, MROs, and airlines.
By joining forces, the two companies create a combined entity that offers the best of both worlds. Eastway’s clients gain access to Kuehne+Nagel’s global reach and integrated logistics solutions, while Kuehne+Nagel enhances its service portfolio with Eastway’s specialized, high-touch expertise. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close by the end of 2025, at which point Eastway will become a fully owned subsidiary of Kuehne+Nagel.
“By partnering with the world’s leading logistics company, we are taking our family-owned business into an exciting new chapter. Through combining our deep expertise in aerospace logistics with the global reach and capabilities of Kuehne+Nagel, we can extend our footprint and deliver world-class supply chain solutions to clients across the aerospace industry.” – Frank Junior McNamara, Managing Director of Eastway.
Concluding Section: Charting the Future of Aerospace Logistics
The acquisition of Eastway by Kuehne+Nagel is more than a business transaction; it’s a strategic realignment that reflects the evolving demands of the aerospace industry. It underscores a trend where global logistics providers are seeking to deepen their expertise in specialized, high-value verticals. By integrating Eastway’s proven capabilities, Kuehne+Nagel is not just getting bigger, it’s getting smarter and more specialized in a sector where precision is paramount.
Looking ahead, the combined entity is poised to become a dominant force in aerospace logistics. The partnership will likely lead to more integrated and efficient supply chain solutions for the entire aerospace ecosystem. For airlines, this means faster AOG response times and more reliable parts delivery. For leasing companies and MROs, it means a single, trusted partner with a global reach and deep technical understanding. This move sets a new benchmark in the industry, signaling a future where global scale and niche expertise are no longer separate strengths but essential, combined components of a world-class logistics offering.
FAQ
Question: What is the core announcement?
Answer: Kuehne+Nagel has announced its intention to acquire Eastway Global Forwarding Ltd., a company specializing in aerospace logistics.
Question: Why is this acquisition significant for the logistics industry?
Answer: It strengthens Kuehne+Nagel’s position in the high-growth aerospace logistics market by adding Eastway’s specialized expertise in critical areas like Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) services and logistics for the aviation leasing industry.
Question: Who is Eastway Global Forwarding?
Answer: Eastway is a private, family-owned company based in Ireland, founded in 2001. It is a leader in the niche market of aerospace logistics, known for its time-critical services for airlines, MROs, and aviation leasing firms.
Question: When is the deal expected to be finalized?
Answer: The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Sources: Kuehne+Nagel Newsroom
Supply Chain
Mobix Labs Wins Engine Connector Order for Fighters and Widebodies
Mobix Labs received a six-figure order from a tier-one supplier for EMI-filtered engine connectors on US fighters and wide-body jets.
Mobix Labs has received a six-figure production order from an unnamed tier-one aerospace and defense supplier for connectors used in engine systems on multiple U.S. fighter jet platforms and on wide-body commercial aircraft, extending its engine-system work across military and commercial aviation.
In a press release published through Business Wire on November 5, 2026, the company (Nasdaq: MOBX) said the order covers custom-engineered connectors filtered against electromagnetic interference (EMI) that protect engine control and monitoring electronics. The release does not name the supplier, the specific fighter or wide-body types, or the exact value of the order. It presents the award as the next step after F-16 production orders and what it calls a 500% increase in F-22 component orders.
What the order covers
Mobix Labs, which describes itself as a U.S.-based provider of advanced, mission-critical electronic components for aerospace and defense, said modern fighter jets operate in demanding electromagnetic environments, where radar, communications and electronic warfare systems coexist with digital engine controls. The company said its filtering helps protect engine electronics from that interference.
“From front-line U.S. fighter jets to the world’s largest commercial aircraft, engine reliability is nonnegotiable.”
Phil Sansone, chief executive officer of Mobix Labs, said the order reflects the expanding role of the company’s technology and its growing reach into commercial aviation. The company said the award supports its strategy of expanding into mission-critical aerospace and defense applications through specialized, high-reliability components for established aircraft programs. The release does not give a delivery schedule for the new order.
How the order builds on F-22 and F-16 work
Fighter programs
On April 2, 2026, Mobix Labs reported new and expanded activity on the F-22 Raptor program from Irvine, California, including a new customer and increased demand from an existing partner. That release described the combined activity as “approximately a five-fold increase in component orders,” with production underway to support deliveries in 2026.
On September 8, 2026, the company announced its initial F-16 connector order, placed by a veteran-owned U.S. aerospace sustainment contractor that supports the Air Force F-16 fleet. Those EMI-filtered connectors are made by its EMI Solutions unit at a military-approved facility in Irvine. The September release noted that the Air Force’s F-16 Service Life Extension Program extends upgraded aircraft from an original 8,000-hour service life to as much as 12,000 flight hours, supporting operation of parts of the fleet toward 2050.
Beyond fighters
According to the September release, Mobix Labs components are used on the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Its wider portfolio includes Apache helicopters, U.S. Navy shipboard secure communications systems, missile programs, Gulfstream aircraft, where AirPro News covered its Gulfstream component orders, and certified onboard systems for Boeing 737NG aircraft. The company operates through subsidiaries including EMI Solutions and RaGE Systems.
For scale, Mobix Labs said in an earlier release listed on its Business Wire page that revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter of 2026, which ended September 30, 2026, would exceed $1.6 million, the midpoint of guidance of $1.4 million to $1.8 million issued on August 17, 2026.
The commercial backlog behind the pitch
To support the commercial side of the order, Mobix Labs cites figures from ADS, the UK trade association for aerospace, defence, security and space. In data published on August 31, 2026, ADS said the global commercial aircraft backlog reached a record 17,037 aircraft in July 2026, equal to more than 12 years of production at current delivery rates.
ADS reported that 1,573 aircraft were ordered in the first seven months of 2026, up 31% on the same period of 2025. Deliveries for January to July reached 794, the strongest performance for that period since 2018, but ADS said the backlog keeps growing because demand exceeds production, and it acknowledged supply chain and industrial challenges. Mobix Labs said engine supply is a critical factor in the pace of deliveries.
The company said it believes its U.S.-based manufacturing and its experience with high-reliability components position it for more military and commercial work. Its release also states that no assurance can be given of additional orders or revenue.
MRO & Manufacturing
Lufthansa Technik Extends PSA Airlines CF34 Engine Services Deal
Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey has signed a new multi-year CF34-8 engine services deal with PSA Airlines, a customer of more than 26 years.
Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey and PSA Airlines have signed a new multi-year agreement for CF34-8 engine services, extending a customer relationship that Lufthansa Technik says spans more than 26 years. The engines power PSA’s fleet of 60 CRJ700 and 94 CRJ900 regional jets.
Lufthansa Technik announced the agreement in a press release dated November 5, 2026, datelined Alzey and Charlotte. AERO Alzey, a wholly owned Lufthansa Technik subsidiary, will continue to provide comprehensive CF34-8 services to the American Airlines Group regional carrier.
What the agreement covers
Under the agreement, AERO Alzey will provide maintenance, performance restoration shop visits, on-site support, life limited part replacement shop visits and module shop visits. Lufthansa Technik did not disclose the value or the exact term of the contract beyond describing it as multi-year.
The company said the relationship is among the longest-standing in AERO Alzey’s CF34 engine business and has grown alongside PSA’s fleet growth and operational needs.
Matthew Key, Vice President of Technical Operations Strategy and Sourcing at PSA Airlines, said: “Relationships like this don’t last 26 years because of contracts.” He credited mutual reliability, mutual support and a focus on delivering results. Judith Wedlich-Blender, Chief Operations Officer of Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey, said: “Every engine we maintain in Alzey represents much more than a technical component.”
The carrier and the engine shop
PSA Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group and flies regional service as American Eagle. It has more than 5,500 employees and operates over 730 daily flights to more than 100 destinations across the United States. The carrier has also invested in its own maintenance infrastructure, including a Knoxville maintenance base that AirPro News covered in April 2025.
Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey GmbH provides manufacturer-independent engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for regional passenger aircraft and the latest-generation medium-haul jet engines. It has operated for over 35 years at its facility in Alzey, in the Rhine-Hessian region, where the 71,000 square meter site employs around 800 people. Its parent, Lufthansa Technik, employs more than 22,000 people worldwide.
Lufthansa Technik’s other recent engine news includes Flair Airlines’ 15-year LEAP-1B deal, covered by AirPro News in September 2026, and an expansion of Lufthansa Technik Engine Services in Tulsa, which the company’s newsroom lists under October 21, 2026.
MRO & Manufacturing
Liebherr-Aerospace Opens Sydney Office for Australasian Customers
Liebherr-Aerospace has opened a representative office in Sydney to serve Australia and New Zealand ahead of major Qantas fleet programs.
Liebherr-Aerospace has opened a representative office in Sydney to serve customers across Australia and New Zealand, as the Australian market prepares for major fleet programs including Qantas Group’s Project Sunrise. The office sits within the Liebherr Group’s existing facility in Pyrmont, New South Wales.
The company announced the opening in a press release dated November 5, 2026. It said the office will strengthen existing relationships, build new local ones and improve customer services in a region where aviation is undergoing significant fleet renewal and investment.
Why Australia and New Zealand
Liebherr-Aerospace described Australia and New Zealand as important markets for both commercial aviation and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. The release ties the timing to three fleet programs in the Australian market: Project Sunrise with the Airbus A350-1000ULR, the introduction of the Airbus A321XLR and the modernization of the regional fleet of Qantas Airways (QF).
Joël Cadaux, Asia-Pacific Regional Head for the Aerospace & Transportation Division, said: “We are very pleased to be closer to our customers in Australia and New Zealand.” Andrew Schultz, Managing Director of Liebherr-Australia Pty Ltd, welcomed the division to the group’s Sydney facility. Liebherr-Australia has provided machinery, services and technical support across Australia since 1981.
How the office fits the Liebherr-Aerospace network
Liebherr-Aerospace supplies flight control and actuation systems, landing gear, air management systems, and gears, gearboxes and electronics for civil and military aircraft and helicopters. Its centers of excellence include Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH in Germany, for flight control, actuation, gears, gearboxes and landing gear systems, and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS in France, for air management systems. The Lindenberg company, founded in 1960, employs 3,490 people.
The Sydney office follows a similar regional step in India. In February 2019, Liebherr-Aerospace opened a larger regional office in Bangalore to support Indian operators, manufacturers and suppliers and to coordinate projects with Lindenberg and Toulouse. At the time, its customer service network also included centers in Singapore and Shanghai.
The company’s recent MRO work in the wider region includes China Airlines’ A350 nose landing gear contract, served through an asset exchange in Singapore. In Europe, it opened a heat transfer equipment center in France in October 2026.
Liebherr-Aerospace did not disclose how many people will work at the Sydney office.
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