This article is based on an official press release from Pegasus Airlines.

Pegasus Airlines Launches In-House Maintenance Center at Sabiha Gökçen

Pegasus Airlines has officially inaugurated the first phase of its new aircraft maintenance center at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), marking a pivotal step toward greater operational independence. According to an official company announcement released on February 18, 2026, the new facility is designed to reduce the airline’s reliance on external service providers and streamline fleet operations.

The opening represents a significant infrastructure investment for the low-cost carrier. By bringing maintenance capabilities in-house, Pegasus aims to mitigate the scheduling bottlenecks currently affecting the global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector. The facility is situated between the airport’s two runways, positioning it strategically to service the airline’s growing fleet of Boeing 737 and Airbus A320/A321 aircraft.

Phase 1: Immediate Capabilities and Investment

The newly operational first phase represents an investment of approximately $40 million. According to data released by the airline, the facility currently encompasses 18,000 square meters of enclosed space and an additional 25,000 square meters of apron area. This initial launch has reportedly created approximately 200 new jobs within the technical department.

In its current configuration, the center features two maintenance hangars and one dedicated paint hangar. Pegasus Airlines states that this infrastructure allows for simultaneous base maintenance on four narrow-body aircraft and painting operations for one aircraft. The facility is equipped to handle a wide range of technical tasks, including line maintenance, C-checks (base maintenance), engine and landing gear replacements, and structural modifications.

“Our investment, in which we commissioned two maintenance hangars and a paint hangar… will provide base maintenance for four narrow-body aircraft and painting for one aircraft.”

, Pegasus Airlines Official Statement

Future Expansion Timeline

Pegasus Airlines has outlined a three-stage roadmap to expand the facility’s capacity over the next few years, aligning technical growth with fleet expansion.

Phase 2 (Target: Q4 2026)

The airline plans to complete the second phase of the project by the last quarter of 2026. This expansion involves commissioning an additional hangar, which will increase the center’s capacity to perform base maintenance on five additional narrow-body aircraft. Once this phase is complete, the total simultaneous capacity will rise to 10 aircraft.

Phase 3 (Long-term)

In the final planned phase, projected for completion within four to five years, Pegasus intends to merge and expand the existing hangars. The company states that this ultimate configuration will allow the center to provide base maintenance and painting services for a total of 15 narrow-body aircraft simultaneously.

Strategic Objectives and Sustainability

The shift to in-house maintenance is driven by a need for cost efficiency and schedule reliability. By managing its own maintenance slots, Pegasus can avoid the “massive bottlenecks” and slot shortages that frequently impact airlines relying on third-party MROs. The facility is also designed as a “smart” hangar, utilizing digital warehousing and paperless processes to optimize turnaround times.

Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, emphasized the strategic nature of the project in public remarks surrounding the opening:

“Every investment we make in technical infrastructure takes our operational strength one step further. Our aircraft maintenance center investment at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport is a strategic milestone in Pegasus’ sustainable growth journey.”

, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines

AirPro News Analysis

The opening of this facility places Pegasus Airlines in a unique position within the competitive landscape at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. While the airport already hosts major MRO players like Turkish Technic (HABOM) and MyTechnic, Pegasus’s entry is distinct in its focus. Unlike Turkish Technic, which operates a massive 380,000-square-meter complex serving a mix of wide-body and narrow-body clients, Pegasus is building a “right-sized” facility dedicated primarily to its own narrow-body fleet.

This vertical integration is a critical defensive move. As global supply chains remain strained and spare parts shortages persist, airlines without priority access to maintenance slots face higher risks of prolonged aircraft groundings (AOG). By controlling its own technical destiny, Pegasus insulates itself from market volatility, ensuring its fleet remains airborne and profitable.

Sources

• Pegasus Airlines LinkedIn Announcement

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

Daher Secures Major Contract Renewal with Airbus Atlantic to Support Production Ramp-Up

Daher has announced the renewal and significant expansion of its logistics partnership with Airbus Atlantic, solidifying its role in the aerospace giant’s supply chain through 2031. The five-year contract, covering the “West Hub” in Montoir-de-Bretagne, France, positions Daher as a critical enabler of Airbus’s aggressive production goals for the A320, A330, and A350 programs.

According to the announcement made on February 18, 2026, the new agreement requires a massive scaling of operations. Daher will triple its logistics volumes and nearly double its local workforce to meet the demands of the industrial ramp-up. The deal underscores the increasing reliance of major OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) on Tier 1 logistics partners to manage complex, high-velocity supply chains.

Operational Expansion at the West Hub

The contract focuses on the management of the Montoir-de-Bretagne logistics hub, a facility that serves as the convergence point for flows from four distinct Airbus Atlantic production sites and external suppliers. Under the terms of the agreement, Daher is tasked with ensuring the seamless receiving, storage, inventory management, and shipment of parts.

To support the projected tripling of daily part volumes, Daher confirmed it will increase its on-site workforce from 250 to 450 employees by mid-2027. This expansion is necessary to maintain Just-in-Time (JIT) delivery standards, where parts must be available immediately upon request to prevent costly production stoppages.

Strategic Alignment with Airbus Atlantic

Daher has operated at the Montoir-de-Bretagne site since 2003 and achieved Tier 1 supplier status in 2018. However, this renewal marks a specific adaptation to the “Airbus Atlantic” model. Formed to consolidate aerostructure activities, Airbus Atlantic requires a unified logistics approach. Daher’s role involves reorganizing flows to absorb the consolidation of four plants into a single central hub.

“We are proud to continue the support of Airbus Atlantic in this new strategic phase, with the latest contract a testament to the renewed confidence and recognition of our ability to adapt and reinvent ourselves.”

, Aymeric Daher, CEO of Daher Logistics

Technological Innovation: The Hub Advanced Monitoring System

A key factor in the contract renewal appears to be Daher’s commitment to “Logistics 4.0” technologies. The company stated it is deploying a proprietary “Hub Advanced Monitoring System,” developed specifically during the tender process. This system acts as a control tower, providing real-time visibility over all logistics flows and coordinating various automation processes.

In addition to software solutions, the company is implementing end-to-end automation for both upstream and downstream flows. These technical upgrades are designed to support the expansion of the automated warehouse led by Airbus Atlantic, ensuring that physical infrastructure keeps pace with digital tracking capabilities.

AirPro News Analysis

The renewal of this contract highlights a critical trend in the 2026 aerospace landscape: the shift from pure logistics execution to integrated supply-chain orchestration. As Airbus pushes for higher production rates on its single-aisle and wide-body programs, the risk of bottlenecks has moved from final assembly lines to the sub-tier supply chain.

By embedding a Tier 1 partner like Daher deeply into the “West Hub”, with shared IT systems and co-located workforce, Airbus Atlantic is effectively treating logistics as a core manufacturing process rather than an ancillary service. The requirement to double the workforce in a tight labor market also suggests that access to skilled labor remains a pivotal competitive advantage for logistics providers in Western France.

Regional Economic Impact

The contract is expected to have a tangible economic impact on the Loire-Atlantique region. The recruitment of approximately 200 new employees makes this one of the largest logistics hiring initiatives in the area for the 2026–2027 period. Daher emphasized its intention to mobilize and train local talent to fill these roles, addressing the specific technical needs of aerospace logistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of the new contract?
The contract covers a five-year period from 2026 to 2031.

Which aircraft programs does this logistics hub support?
The hub supports the ramp-up of the Airbus A320, A330, and A350 jetliner programs.

How many employees will be added to the site?
Daher plans to grow its workforce from 250 to 450 employees by mid-2027.

Sources

• Daher Press Release

This article is based on an official press release from FTAI Aviation.

FTAI Aviation Acquires Seven Air France Aircraft to Bolster Engine Feedstock

FTAI Aviation has announced the acquisition of seven off-lease Airbus narrowbody Commercial-Aircraft from Air France. The transaction, confirmed on February 17, 2026, marks an expansion of the existing relationship between the aviation aftermarket specialist and the French flag carrier. The deal is designed to support Air France’s fleet modernization strategy while providing critical engine material for FTAI’s growing maintenance operations.

According to the company’s official statement, the Acquisitions includes a mix of Airbus A320-family aircraft: one A318-100, four A319-100s, and two A321-200s. These assets will primarily serve as feedstock for FTAI’s Aerospace Products division, specifically supplying CFM56 engines and modules to support the company’s aftermarket maintenance programs.

Strategic Value of the Acquisition

The seven acquired aircraft are powered by CFM56 engines, which remain the most widely used engine type in the global commercial fleet. By acquiring these airframes, FTAI Aviation secures a direct supply of engines and serviceable modules. This “feedstock” is essential for the company’s “Module Factory” model, which focuses on swapping out specific engine modules (such as fans or cores) to restore performance rapidly, rather than performing lengthy and expensive full-engine overhauls.

For Air France, the transaction aligns with its broader “end-of-life” fleet strategy. As the Airlines continues to modernize its fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft like the Airbus A220 and A350, it is systematically retiring older generation A320-family jets. Selling these assets to a specialist like FTAI allows the airline to monetize retiring assets efficiently while ensuring the engines can support the remaining global fleet of legacy aircraft.

A History of Collaboration

This transaction builds upon a Partnerships established during the height of the aviation industry’s restructuring in 2020. In April of that year, FTAI Aviation and Air France concluded a sale-and-leaseback agreement covering 16 aircraft, including six A319s and ten A318s. That deal provided Air France with liquidity and fleet flexibility during the pandemic, while FTAI secured high-quality assets for its leasing and maintenance portfolio.

The current acquisition differs in focus; rather than a leaseback arrangement intended for continued operation by the airline, these seven aircraft are designated to support FTAI’s “Aerospace Products and Power platforms.” This indicates that the airframes and engines will likely be dismantled or harvested to support other operators facing supply chain constraints.

AirPro News analysis

The acquisition highlights a critical trend in the 2026 aviation aftermarket: the soaring value of “green time” and serviceable material for legacy engines. With new-generation engines like the CFM LEAP and Pratt & Whitney GTF facing ongoing production delays and durability issues, airlines are keeping older aircraft flying longer than planned. This has created a bottleneck in the supply of spare parts and serviceable engines.

FTAI Aviation’s strategy of buying retiring aircraft specifically for “feedstock” allows them to bypass the traditional supply chain. By harvesting modules from these Air France jets, FTAI can offer immediate solutions to other operators desperate for CFM56 maintenance. In an environment where shop visit turnaround times can exceed 100 days, the ability to swap a module in a fraction of that time provides a significant competitive advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What aircraft did FTAI Aviation acquire?
FTAI acquired seven Airbus aircraft: one A318-100, four A319-100s, and two A321-200s.

What will happen to these aircraft?
The aircraft will be used primarily as feedstock, meaning their engines and components will be harvested to support FTAI’s maintenance programs and power generation initiatives.

Why is Air France selling these planes?
Air France is modernizing its fleet and retiring older aircraft. Selling to FTAI allows them to offload these assets efficiently as part of their end-of-life fleet strategy.

What is the “Module Factory”?
The Module Factory is FTAI’s maintenance approach that involves replacing specific sections (modules) of an engine to restore it to service quickly, offering a faster and often cheaper alternative to full engine overhauls.

Sources: FTAI Aviation