JetBlue Airways has announced that FL Technics will be the launch customer for its new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The agreement positions JetBlue as the first operator to use the 20,000‑square‑meter hangar, which will provide heavy‑maintenance services for the airline’s Airbus A320 family.
The joint investment of $70 million between FL Technics and Grupo Puntacana will bring the facility online in June 2026, pending FAA audit and certification. The project will create an initial 300 skilled technical and support jobs, with plans to expand to 2,000 positions over the coming years, and will also serve leasing companies that operate narrow‑body aircraft in the region.
JetBlue’s strategy to keep maintenance closer to its Caribbean routes is designed to reduce aircraft ferrying time and lower downtime, thereby improving operational reliability on its U.S.–Dominican Republic network, the airline’s largest market in the region. The partnership also dovetails with JetBlue’s Gateway University program, which trains technicians for the airline’s fleet.
“Securing JetBlue as the first customer is a significant step for the project,” said Žilvinas Lapinskas, CEO of FL Technics. “JetBlue is a quality‑driven partner, and the long‑term growth potential of the Punta Cana hub is substantial.” The hiring campaign for the facility drew more than 3,500 applications, and FL Technics is bringing experienced staff from abroad while training local talent.
The new hub will help Punta Cana diversify its aviation revenue streams beyond passenger traffic and position the airport as a regional maintenance center. By providing a local MRO option, the facility reduces the need for U.S. carriers to ferry aircraft to distant maintenance centers, creating cost savings and strengthening the Dominican Republic’s aviation ecosystem.
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