easyJet to Acquire Adria Tehnika MRO Facility in Slovenia

This article is based on an official press release from easyJet.

easyJet has officially signed an agreement to acquire Adria Tehnika, a specialized aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider based at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport in Slovenia. The acquisition, announced in early December 2025, represents a major strategic shift for the low-cost carrier as it moves to bring significant heavy maintenance operations in-house.

According to the airline’s announcement, the transaction includes the transfer of Adria Tehnika’s five-bay hangar facility and its workforce of approximately 250 skilled engineers and staff. The deal is expected to close in early 2026, subject to standard regulatory approvals. This move follows easyJet’s 2024 acquisition of the SR Technics facility in Malta, further solidifying the airline’s control over its maintenance supply chain.

Securing Maintenance Capacity

The acquisition of Adria Tehnika provides easyJet with immediate access to established heavy maintenance infrastructure. The Ljubljana facility spans approximately 10,000 square meters and has the capacity to handle roughly 400,000 man-hours annually. By integrating this facility, easyJet aims to secure guaranteed maintenance slots, a critical resource that has become increasingly scarce in the post-pandemic aviation landscape.

Brendan McConnellogue, Director of Engineering & Maintenance at easyJet, highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two companies in the press statement:

“We have worked with Adria Tehnika for almost a decade and entrusted them with over 200 heavy maintenance inputs… We are really pleased to be acquiring the facility, along with its skilled workforce, which will help us further our aim of bringing more of our maintenance in-house.”

The airline noted that Adria Tehnika has previously executed complex projects for easyJet, including the “SpaceFlex” cabin reconfiguration program initiated in 2016. Under the new ownership structure, Barbara Perko Brvar will continue to lead the organization as CEO.

Strategic Rationale: The Shift to Insourcing

This acquisition is part of a broader strategy by easyJet to reduce reliance on third-party providers. By owning the facilities, the airline seeks to improve operational resilience and mitigate the risks associated with supply chain delays and slot unavailability.

According to company statements, bringing these operations in-house allows for greater cost efficiency and tighter control over maintenance scheduling. This is particularly vital as the airline manages a large fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft, which require regular heavy maintenance checks.

AirPro News analysis

The decision by easyJet to acquire Adria Tehnika reflects a growing industry trend known as “insourcing.” In the wake of global supply chain disruptions and a shortage of skilled aviation mechanics, airlines are increasingly moving away from the pure outsourcing models that dominated the last two decades.

Market data suggests that the global MRO market is currently facing a “super cycle” of demand. Aging fleets, delayed deliveries of new aircraft from manufacturers, and high utilization rates have squeezed the availability of third-party maintenance slots. By purchasing Adria Tehnika, and previously the SR Technics facility in Malta, easyJet is effectively insulating itself from market volatility. This vertical integration ensures that the airline is not left competing for hangar space during peak maintenance seasons, protecting its flight schedules and operational reliability.

About Adria Tehnika

Adria Tehnika has a deep history in European aviation, originally serving as the technical division of Slovenia’s former national carrier, Adria Airways. It became an independent entity in 2010 and has since built a reputation for expertise on Airbus A320 and Bombardier CRJ series aircraft. The company holds EASA Part-145 maintenance and Part-147 training certifications.

While easyJet will become the owner, the facility has historically served a diverse client roster, including major carriers such as Lufthansa, SAS, and Brussels Airlines. In the press release, Adria Tehnika’s leadership expressed optimism about the facility’s future development under the backing of a major airline group.

“With a strategic investor like easyJet, we will be able to further and more rapidly develop our activities, capacities, and the expertise of our employees,” said Barbara Perko Brvar, CEO of Adria Tehnika.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed in the initial announcement.

Sources

• easyJet Press Release