MRO & Manufacturing
Aero Star Aviation Expands Maintenance Services to Cessna Citation Jets
Aero Star Aviation broadens MRO capabilities to service Textron Aviation’s Citation 560XL and Latitude jets, enhancing fleet support with AI and new facilities.
This article is based on an official press release from Aero Star Aviation. Supplementary industry context is drawn from third-party reporting.
On March 11, 2026, Dallas-based Aero Star Aviation announced a major strategic expansion of its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. Historically recognized as a dedicated specialist in Embraer business jets, the company is officially opening its hangar doors to Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation 560XL and Citation Latitude airframes.
According to the company’s press release, the new service offerings encompass scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, comprehensive inspections, troubleshooting, and dedicated airframe support. To facilitate this transition, Aero Star Aviation has invested heavily in specialized tooling and targeted maintenance technician training specific to the Citation models.
This expansion allows the MRO provider to tap into a massive existing fleet of popular midsize business jets. By broadening its scope, Aero Star aims to provide operators of Textron Aviation aircraft with the same streamlined service, reduced downtime, and technical excellence that its Embraer clients have historically received.
Aero Star’s decision to expand into these specific Textron Aviation models is highly strategic, driven by the massive market presence of both aircraft. The Cessna Citation 560XL family, which includes the Excel, XLS, and XLS+ variants, is one of the most successful midsize business jets in aviation history. With over 1,000 units delivered since its introduction in the late 1990s, the 560XL represents a vast, aging fleet that requires consistent, ongoing maintenance.
Similarly, the Cessna Citation Latitude, introduced in 2015, has been recognized as Textron Aviation’s best-selling midsize business jet for several consecutive years. The Latitude is highly popular among corporate flight departments and large fractional fleet operators, such as NetJets, ensuring a steady and lucrative pipeline of maintenance work for independent repair stations.
In the official press release, company leadership emphasized that their core values of safety and responsiveness will seamlessly transfer to the new airframes.
“Our reputation has been built on providing exceptional support for Embraer and Praetor aircraft. Adding the Citation airframe services allows us to extend that same commitment to safety, quality, and responsiveness to a wider segment of the business aviation community.” Founded in 2013, Aero Star Aviation operates out of its headquarters at Dallas Love Field (KDAL) in Texas, alongside a satellite facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company is an FAA-approved Part 145 repair station and holds Mexican AFAC certification, permitting it to service aircraft registered in Mexico. Prior to this announcement, the company built its reputation almost exclusively on servicing Embraer aircraft, specifically the Phenom 100 and 300 series, as well as the Praetor 500 and 600. To support its growing client base, the company has been on an aggressive physical growth trajectory. According to reporting by AviationPros in October 2024, Aero Star expanded into two larger hangars at Dallas Love Field, significantly increasing its footprint to 82,000 square feet of hangar space and 48,000 square feet of office space.
Beyond physical space, the MRO provider has also invested in cutting-edge technology to streamline its operations. As reported by Business Jet Interiors in late 2025, Aero Star introduced an AI-powered virtual assistant named “Ava.” This proprietary tool was designed to optimize troubleshooting and drastically reduce maintenance downtime for its technicians, a technological advantage that will now be applied to the Citation fleet.
The business aviation MRO sector is currently experiencing a surge in demand, often referred to by industry analysts as an “MRO supercycle.” Due to ongoing supply-chain constraints and backlogs in the production of new aircraft, operators are keeping older aircraft in service much longer than previously anticipated. This naturally increases the frequency, cost, and complexity of required maintenance.
Furthermore, airlines and private operators are increasingly outsourcing maintenance tasks to specialized, independent MROs. This shift allows operators to bypass severe bottlenecks at manufacturer-owned service centers, reduce aircraft downtime, and benefit from the cost efficiencies offered by independent shops.
We view Aero Star Aviation’s pivot as a textbook, highly calculated response to the current macroeconomic pressures in business aviation. By leveraging their recently expanded physical footprint at Dallas Love Field and their innovative AI troubleshooting tools, Aero Star is uniquely positioned to capture a significant share of the aging Citation fleet market. As factory service centers continue to face supply chain and scheduling delays, independent MROs that can guarantee reduced downtime and high-quality service will likely see outsized revenue growth over the next decade.
Sources:
Strategic Expansion into the Textron Market
Leadership Perspective
— Chris Grinnell, Owner and President of Aero Star Aviation
Aero Star’s Growth Trajectory and Technological Edge
AI Integration in Maintenance
Industry Context: The MRO Supercycle
AirPro News analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
As of March 2026, the company has expanded its services to include the Cessna Citation 560XL family (Excel, XLS, XLS+) and the Cessna Citation Latitude.
The company is headquartered at Dallas Love Field (KDAL) in Texas, with an additional satellite facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Supply chain constraints and new aircraft production backlogs are forcing operators to fly older aircraft for longer periods, which increases the need for frequent and complex maintenance.
Photo Credit: Aero Star Aviation