MRO & Manufacturing
AAR Corp to Close Indianapolis Maintenance Facility Impacting 329 Jobs
AAR Corp. will close its Indianapolis maintenance hub by 2027, laying off 329 employees following its HAECO Americas acquisition.
This article summarizes reporting by IndyStar and official filings. The original report is paywalled; this article summarizes publicly available elements and public remarks.
AAR Corp. (NYSE: AIR) has confirmed plans to permanently shutter its airframe maintenance facility at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), a move that will result in the layoff of approximately 329 employees. According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice filed with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development on December 22, 2025, the closure is scheduled to take place in phases over the next year.
The decision marks the end of a two-decade era for the facility under AAR’s management. Reporting by IndyStar indicates that the closure aligns with the expiration of the company’s lease and follows a significant strategic shift in AAR’s North American operations. The shutdown process is set to begin on February 15, 2026, and is expected to conclude by February 28, 2027.
The closure of the Indianapolis site appears to be a direct consequence of AAR’s recent expansion efforts elsewhere. In November 2025, AAR finalized the acquisition of HAECO Americas for a reported $78 million. This transaction provided the aviation services company with two modern heavy maintenance facilities located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Lake City, Florida.
According to industry analysis and financial reports, the HAECO acquisition included approximately $850 million in long-term contracts, effectively securing capacity at the newly acquired sites. Consequently, the Indianapolis facility, a legacy asset requiring a lease renewal, was deemed redundant within the optimized network.
The Indianapolis Maintenance Center, located at 2825 W. Perimeter Road, is a massive 1.6 million-square-foot complex originally constructed in the early 1990s. AAR leased approximately 367,000 square feet of this space. Reports suggest that the aging infrastructure of the facility, often described in local aviation circles as “legacy” compared to modern standards, played a role in the decision.
AAR’s lease with the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) was approaching expiration. Rather than committing to a long-term renewal, the company signed a short-term extension through February 2027. This timeline mirrors the final closure date outlined in the WARN notice, signaling a deliberate exit Strategy rather than a sudden financial collapse.
The primary impact of this consolidation will be felt by the local workforce. The WARN notice specifies that 329 employees will be separated from the company starting in mid-February 2026. AAR has stated that all affected employees are receiving at least 60 days’ notice, complying with federal requirements. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is expected to activate its “Rapid Response” team to assist displaced workers. This state-led initiative typically provides job placement assistance, resume workshops, and Training opportunities to help workers transition to new employment.
The Indianapolis Maintenance Center has a complex history tied to public investment. Originally built for United Airlines in 1994, the facility was supported by over $300 million in taxpayer incentives with the promise of thousands of jobs. However, United Airlines vacated the site in 2003 following bankruptcy proceedings.
AAR took over the facility in 2004, stabilizing the site and employing hundreds of mechanics for over 20 years. The upcoming departure leaves the Indianapolis Airport Authority with a significant vacancy, specifically 10 hangar bays, that has historically been difficult to fill.
Despite the closure, AAR Corp. remains in a strong financial position. Fiscal Year 2025 reports indicate a 20% revenue growth, reaching $2.8 billion. This growth has been driven largely by acquisitions and robust demand for aftermarket parts. The company’s stock performance has trended upward, with analysts interpreting the consolidation of operations into the HAECO facilities as a margin-positive move.
The closure of the Indianapolis facility underscores a broader trend in the MRO sector: the prioritization of owned, modern assets over leased legacy infrastructure. By acquiring HAECO, AAR not only gained capacity but also secured a workforce and facility footprint that likely offers better long-term economics than the aging Indianapolis site.
For the Indianapolis Airport Authority, this presents a familiar challenge. The facility was designed for a different era of aviation, where massive, single-tenant hubs were the norm. In today’s market, finding a single tenant to occupy such a vast space is increasingly difficult. We anticipate the IAA may need to subdivide the space or seek non-traditional tenants to utilize the hangars effectively once AAR departs in 2027.
When will the layoffs begin? Is AAR Corp. in financial trouble? What will happen to the facility?
AAR Corp. to Close Indianapolis Maintenance Hub, Impacting 329 Workers
Strategic Consolidation Following HAECO Acquisition
Facility Condition and Lease Timing
Impact on Workforce and Local Economy
Historical Context of the Site
Financial Health and Market Trends
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the WARN notice, the first separations are scheduled to begin on February 15, 2026.
No. Financial reports show AAR is growing, with a 20% revenue increase in FY2025. The closure is a strategic move to consolidate operations following the acquisition of HAECO Americas.
The facility will revert to the control of the Indianapolis Airport Authority after the lease expires in February 2027. The IAA has not yet announced specific plans for the site.
Sources
Photo Credit: AAR Corp