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

Airhub Aviation has officially expanded its Maintenance Organization Certificate to include the Boeing 737 MAX, securing regulatory approval for both Line Maintenance (MRO) and Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) operations. The certification was granted by the Transport Competence Agency (TKA) of the Republic of Lithuania, marking a significant operational pivot for the aviation services provider.

Historically recognized for its expertise in managing mid-to-end-of-life aircraft, Airhub Aviation is now adapting its technical capabilities to service next-generation narrowbody fleets. According to a company press release, the approval allows the firm to support operators of the growing Boeing 737 MAX fleet with efficient and reliable aviation services.

The transition highlights a broader industry necessity as maintenance providers upgrade their facilities and training programs to meet the surging global demand for modern, fuel-efficient aircraft maintenance.

Expanding Capabilities for Next-Generation Fleets

From Legacy Assets to the 737 MAX

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania, Airhub Aviation operates as part of the GetJet aviation group. Industry background reports indicate that the company has traditionally focused on older fleets, including Airbus A320ceo aircraft and passenger-to-freighter conversions for Airbus A340 widebodies. The recent TKA approval represents a strategic expansion into modern aircraft technologies.

The newly acquired Line Maintenance approval authorizes Airhub Aviation to perform routine, day-to-day checks, troubleshooting, and minor repairs on the Boeing 737 MAX while the aircraft remains in active service. Concurrently, the CAMO certification enables the company to manage the administrative and technical tracking of the aircraft’s health, ensuring strict regulatory compliance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.

“This approval reflects not only our teams’ dedication, professionalism, and close collaboration, but also our ability to respond with agility,” Airhub Aviation stated in its official release.

Industry Pressures and the MRO Market Surge

Meeting Global Demand

The push to certify maintenance providers for the Boeing 737 MAX aligns with significant shifts in the global commercial aviation fleet. According to Boeing’s 2025 Commercial Market Outlook, the industry projects a global demand for 33,300 new single-aisle aircraft over the next 20 years. Industry forecasts further anticipate that narrowbody jets will represent over two-thirds of the entire global commercial fleet by 2029.

This rapid fleet modernization is driving record expansion in the commercial MRO sector. Market research estimates value the MRO sector at approximately $96 billion in 2025, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 5% through the end of the decade. However, this growth is accompanied by severe supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages. Boeing estimates that the aviation industry will require 716,000 new maintenance technicians over the next two decades to sustain global operations.

AirPro News analysis

We observe that Airhub Aviation’s certification is indicative of a larger regional trend within the Baltic states. Lithuania is actively positioning itself as a critical, agile hub for European aviation maintenance and asset management. As airlines face record-high passenger load factors, aircraft are spending more time in the air, resulting in tighter turnaround windows for maintenance teams. By expanding independent Line Maintenance and CAMO capabilities for high-demand aircraft like the 737 MAX, regional MRO providers are playing a vital role in alleviating operational bottlenecks and keeping European fleets flying without extended delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Line Maintenance in aviation?

Line maintenance involves routine, day-to-day checks, troubleshooting, and minor repairs conducted while an aircraft is in service. These tasks are typically performed between flights or overnight to ensure the aircraft is safe for its next scheduled departure.

What does CAMO stand for?

CAMO stands for Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation. It involves the administrative and technical tracking of an aircraft’s health, managing maintenance schedules, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining detailed lifecycle records.

Who regulates aviation safety in Lithuania?

The Transport Competence Agency (TKA) is the national supervisory authority responsible for civil aviation regulation and safety in the Republic of Lithuania, ensuring compliance with EASA and ICAO standards.

Sources

• Airhub Aviation Official Press Release

This article is based on an official press release from Lufthansa Technik.

On May 20, 2026, Lufthansa Technik announced a significant regulatory milestone, securing the “Certain Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Privilege” from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). According to the official company press release, this new authority allows the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider to independently approve specific major cabin modifications for the Airbus A320ceo family without requiring case-by-case EASA approval.

The delegation of this authority marks a notable shift in European regulatory processes, empowering highly trusted Design Organisations operating under the Part-21J framework. For airline customers, this streamlined process is projected to reduce certification costs for applicable A320ceo cabin projects by up to 20 percent, while substantially shortening approval timelines and minimizing aircraft downtime.

We at AirPro News recognize this development as a critical step for the commercial MRO sector, particularly as airlines seek cost-effective, agile ways to extend the lifespan and update the interiors of their aging narrowbody fleets in a highly competitive market.

Understanding the “Certain STC Privilege”

To fully grasp the significance of this announcement, it is essential to understand the standard aviation regulatory framework. While aircraft and engine manufacturers receive a primary “Type Certificate” for their products, any other Design Organisation must typically obtain a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for each major design change made to an aircraft. Traditionally, this mandates a meticulous, project-by-project review process by EASA, which can be both time-consuming and costly.

According to Lufthansa Technik, the newly granted privilege specifically applies to recurring engineering solutions for cabin conversions on the Airbus A320ceo (Current Engine Option) family. The MRO provider can now independently approve routine layout changes. This scope includes seat reconfigurations, the relocation of galleys or lavatories, and the repositioning of class dividers.

A Legacy of Trust and Compliance

EASA granted this privilege based on Lufthansa Technik’s extensive track record of compliance and safety. The organization has frequently obtained STCs for these specific solutions in the past and has successfully demonstrated its ability to manage the similarity of design and repetitiveness of certification within a continuously monitored framework. Operating under EASA oversight since 2004, and originally certified by the German Federal Aviation Authority in 1973, Lufthansa Technik’s Part-21J Design Organisation currently employs nearly 700 design, compliance verification, and certification engineers across 12 global locations.

“After a long period of trustful cooperation with Lufthansa Technik, we are confident in granting the ‘Certain STC Privilege’. Now we have another Design Organisation on board to gain experience in approving major changes.”
, Alain Leroy, Acting Certification Director at EASA

Operational and Financial Benefits for Airlines

The implementation of the Certain STC Privilege offers tangible, immediate benefits to both the MRO provider and its global airline clients. By bypassing the traditional EASA review process for routine projects, administrative overhead is effectively eliminated.

“The privilege allows us to clearly differentiate between routine projects we can handle independently and those requiring close EASA involvement. We expect certification cost savings of up to 20 percent.”
, Dr. Uwe Schueler, VP Design Organisation at Lufthansa Technik

Beyond direct cost savings, the privilege significantly reduces aircraft downtime. Faster turnaround times mean aircraft spend less time idle in maintenance hangars and can return to revenue-generating service much more quickly. This newfound agility allows Lufthansa Technik to be highly responsive to the fast-paced, shifting needs of operators.

“The ‘Certain STC Privilege’ is a major milestone for our Design Organisation and Lufthansa Technik. It allows us to significantly speed up the approval process, save precious time and avoid unnecessary costs. Our design engineers already have a range of recurring major changes in mind for which we can achieve a Certain STC to further streamline our processes and services.”
, Harald Gloy, COO of Lufthansa Technik

Industry Implications and Broader Significance

AirPro News analysis

We view EASA’s decision to grant this privilege as part of a broader, highly pragmatic regulatory strategy. By allowing proven MROs to handle routine, repetitive modifications independently, EASA can free up its own vital regulatory resources. This allows the agency to focus its oversight on novel, complex, or higher-risk aviation certifications, such as new propulsion technologies, advanced air mobility solutions, and next-generation aircraft designs.

Furthermore, this development aligns perfectly with current market dynamics surrounding aging narrowbody fleets. The Airbus A320ceo remains a widely used older-generation aircraft. As airlines look to extend the lifespan of these fleets rather than wait for backlogged new aircraft deliveries, the reduction in certification overhead provides a significant financial incentive to proceed with necessary cabin refurbishments.

Airlines are also under increasing pressure to meet modern sustainability goals, such as installing lighter seats to save fuel, and to evolve the passenger experience with upgrades like wireless inflight entertainment. Faster, cheaper certification processes make these essential retrofits much more accessible for operators worldwide, ensuring older aircraft remain competitive and compliant with modern standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)?

An STC is a regulatory approval required by aviation authorities (like EASA or the FAA) for major design changes made to an aircraft or engine by an organization other than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Which aircraft are covered under Lufthansa Technik’s new privilege?

The current “Certain STC Privilege” applies specifically to recurring cabin modifications on the Airbus A320ceo (Current Engine Option) family of aircraft.

How much can airlines expect to save on certification costs?

According to Lufthansa Technik’s official projections, the streamlined, independent approval process is expected to yield certification cost savings of up to 20 percent for applicable cabin modification projects.

Sources

• Lufthansa Technik

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

On May 20, 2026, Liebherr-Aerospace and HAECO Landing Gear Services announced the successful completion of the world’s first major landing gear overhaul for the COMAC C909 regional jet. Formerly known as the ARJ21 or “Soaring Phoenix,” the aircraft represents a major pillar of China’s domestic Commercial-Aircraft strategy.

According to the official press release, this milestone marks a significant advancement in the region’s maintenance ecosystem. By combining Liebherr’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) expertise with HAECO’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, the Partnerships has established a localized, full-lifecycle maintenance infrastructure for China’s first self-developed regional jet.

We note that this development is poised to directly benefit operators in both China and rapidly growing Southeast Asian markets. By localizing heavy maintenance, the joint effort aims to reduce turnaround times and maximize fleet availability for Airlines operating the C909.

A Milestone in Localized Maintenance

The Overhaul Process

The COMAC C909 is a 78–90 seat regional jet manufactured by the Chinese state-owned aerospace company COMAC. The landing gear for the aircraft was originally developed and manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace. Because the landing gear is a safety-critical subsystem, the press release notes that its overhaul requires strict adherence to aviation maintenance procedures, dimensional tolerances, and certified inspection standards.

The overhaul process involved a comprehensive inspection, disassembly, component evaluation, replacement of wear-sensitive parts, reassembly, and final acceptance testing. According to Liebherr, initial preparation and process optimization began in 2025, culminating in final quality acceptance testing and official delivery in May 2026.

Division of Responsibilities

The project highlights a highly integrated collaboration between the OEM and the MRO provider. Liebherr-Aerospace provided technical supervision, process validation, and quality assurance throughout the entire procedure to guarantee compliance with safety and quality standards. Their direct involvement ensured that the overhaul benefited from the original product engineering expertise.

HAECO Landing Gear Services managed the physical overhaul execution, maintenance operations, and workshop integration activities.

“This collaboration represents a significant step forward for China’s civil aviation industry. By combining Liebherr’s OEM technical DNA with HAECO’s MRO excellence, we have not only restored [the landing gear but also established a localized maintenance capability]…”

Expanding a Long-Standing Partnership

Liebherr-Aerospace and HAECO have a long-standing relationship in the Asian market. Since 2017, the two companies have partnered to provide landing gear maintenance for Embraer E-Jet E1 operators in mainland China.

In November 2024, the partners celebrated the delivery of their 100th maintained Embraer E190 landing gear at HAECO’s Xiamen facility. At that time, Liebherr announced its commitment to supporting HAECO in expanding its overhaul services to include the COMAC C909. This alliance was further solidified in July 2025, when HAECO and Liebherr-Aerospace signed a comprehensive component maintenance agreement to provide repair and overhaul services for the hydraulic components of both the COMAC C909 and the larger C919 aircraft.

“Our partnership with Liebherr-Aerospace has been instrumental in enhancing our service offerings and meeting the growing demands of our customers in the Chinese Mainland. We are eager to extend our expertise to the C909 as we adapt to the evolving market.”

AirPro News analysis

We view this successful overhaul as a strategic victory for China’s broader aerospace ambitions. The ability to maintain and overhaul indigenous aircraft locally is just as important as manufacturing them. Historically, heavy maintenance for specialized aircraft components often required shipping parts overseas, leading to long turnaround times and increased costs.

Furthermore, the C909 is increasingly being adopted beyond China, reaching rapidly growing Southeast Asian aviation markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Having a certified, OEM-backed overhaul facility in the region ensures these operators have access to efficient, high-quality maintenance, which is critical for keeping regional fleets operational and profitable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the COMAC C909?

The COMAC C909 is a 78–90 seat regional jet manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). It was formerly designated as the ARJ21, which translates to “Soaring Phoenix.”

Why is this landing gear overhaul significant?

It is the world’s first major landing gear overhaul for the C909 platform. It proves that a localized, OEM-backed maintenance infrastructure has been successfully established in China, reducing the need to ship heavy components overseas for repair.

Sources

• Liebherr Press Release