FL Technics Indonesia plans to more than double its MRO capacity in Jakarta by adding six additional hangars, two paint facilities, as well as engine, wheel, and brake workshops.
The company’s current facility spans 16,000 m² (approximately 172,000 ft²) and is targeted to expand to 45,000 m² through an investment of around €50 million (USD 58 million). The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
“This is a significant investment,” said Martynas Grigas, CEO of FL Technics Indonesia. “Combined with our existing facilities, we may become the largest narrowbody MRO in Southeast Asia. Together with our site in Bali, this will undoubtedly be the biggest.” He continued.
The initiative is driven by rising demand. Southeast Asia is home to thousands of aircraft, with a strong delivery pipeline over the next five years. Grigas noted that airlines from the Middle East, India, and across Asia are already requesting maintenance slots of up to 10 days, compared to the usual 1–3 days, due to their sizeable fleets.
“The demand is immense, and we can already feel it,”.
“We are fully booked. What limits our growth right now is space, which makes this expansion a natural step.” He explained.
If realized, the Jakarta facility will add three new core capabilities: top-case engine maintenance, wheels and brakes, and aircraft painting. FL Technics already provides top-case engine services at its Lithuanian facilities, and Grigas emphasized that this type of quick-turn, light-fix engine work is ‘much-needed’ in Southeast Asia.
“There are several wheel and brake shops here, but most are dedicated to their own airlines, such as AirAsia or Garuda. Very few are accessible to other carriers,” he said. “We are also building a paint facility, which is highly in demand since Southeast Asia has very limited painting capacity.”
For now, FL Technics Indonesia has no plans to enter widebody or full engine overhaul MRO. “Never say never, but certainly not now. That’s a completely different business,” Grigas remarked. “Our strength and focus remain on narrowbody aircraft and supporting workshops.” he said.
The Jakarta facility, opened in December 2016, can accommodate 8–10 narrowbody aircraft simultaneously, covering all variants of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, including the Neo and MAX families. It also houses battery, sheet metal, and non-destructive testing workshops.
In November 2024, the company inaugurated a state-of-the-art hangar in Bali, with capacity for eight aircraft. “This is a brand-new, world-class facility — unmatched in Southeast Asia,” said Grigas.
Currently, the Jakarta and Bali sites employ around 900 staff. The Jakarta expansion is expected to create 400 additional jobs, bringing the total workforce to more than 1,300 employees.
FL Technics’ MRO operations in Indonesia are certified by Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States. Grigas added that EASA certification is anticipated by late 2025 or early 2026.’
Beyond Indonesia, FL Technics is also exploring Thailand, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries for potential MRO sites. Additional locations in Indonesia are being considered as well, particularly in the northern regions closer to Thailand and the Philippines.
“Indonesia is one of the best markets to grow our MRO business,” Grigas said. “There are three key components: the facility itself, which is the easy part, logistics, which must be very strong to ensure daily spare parts supply, and most importantly, people. Without technicians at the airport, there is no business. Fortunately, Indonesia has a vast pool of skilled technicians.” He explained.
Grigas highlighted U-Tapao International Airport in Thailand as a strong candidate for a future MRO hub, though the country still needs to complete its transition from FAA to EASA regulations. The Philippines is another possibility, though its MRO market is already crowded.
If any of these projects move forward, the facilities will be large in scale. “In our industry, scale is essential,” said Grigas, adding that Jakarta itself has grown from a small project into a major complex. He also noted that expansion in Bali is naturally limited due to geography.
FL Technics is part of the Avia Solutions Group, which holds multiple air operator certificates worldwide. While much of FL Technics’ work serves third-party airlines, it also provides MRO services to the group’s growing wet-lease carriers, including BBN Airlines Indonesia and Thai SmartLynx.
Source: Aviation Week