AAR Corp. has opened a major expansion of its aircraft maintenance operation at Miami International Airport, marking a $50 million investment expected to create 200 full-time jobs in Miami-Dade County.
The Chicago-area aviation aftermarket company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 17 for the new airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul facility. The project adds a 114,000-square-foot facility adjacent to AAR’s existing MIA hangar and expands the company’s ability to perform heavy maintenance on narrow-body commercial aircraft.
The expansion is designed to support a long-term maintenance contract with United Airlines. AAR expects to induct the first aircraft into the new facility this autumn.
The project places aviation infrastructure and skilled workforce development at the center of South Florida business growth, reinforcing Miami International Airport’s role as one of the region’s most important economic engines.
New hangar adds three heavy-maintenance lines
The expanded facility is configured to support three lines of heavy maintenance. In practical terms, that means AAR can handle more extensive aircraft inspections, repairs, modifications and overhauls while aircraft are out of passenger service.
The hangar is focused on narrow-body aircraft, the workhorse airplanes used on many domestic, Caribbean and Latin American routes. The additional capacity will allow AAR to serve growing airline maintenance demand while keeping more aviation work connected to its Miami operation.
AAR’s Airframe MRO capabilities are part of the company’s broader Repair, Engineering and Software segment. Its Miami facility provides a strategic location for serving airlines operating through the region and across the Americas.
The 114,000-square-foot expansion is adjacent to AAR’s existing hangar at Miami International Airport. Photo courtesy of CHA Solutions.
The new building increases AAR’s airframe MRO capacity in Miami by approximately 33 percent, according to project information released by the company and its project partners.
AAR has said the facility was constructed to meet the maintenance requirements of a long-term commercial airline customer. The United Airlines relationship calls for a minimum of 10 maintenance lines across AAR’s facilities in Miami and Rockford, Illinois.
$50 million investment tied to Miami-Dade aviation growth
The project was developed through collaboration among AAR, Miami International Airport, Miami-Dade County, Ryan Companies, HPM and other federal, state and local partners.
Miami-Dade County approved the expansion in 2023. County documents said the anticipated $50 million construction cost would be reimbursed over time, supporting the public-private structure behind the hangar project.
The investment comes as MIA continues to serve as a major gateway for international passengers and cargo. Airport-related companies, airlines, logistics operators and aviation service providers support a broad network of jobs and businesses throughout Miami-Dade.
County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava described the facility as part of MIA’s long-term economic role. Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart also pointed to the job creation and AAR’s existing presence in Florida during the Aug. 17 ceremony.
AAR said it already employs more than 1,300 people across Florida. The Miami expansion adds another 200 full-time positions tied to the new maintenance workload.
The latest figure represents the staffing expectation announced at the facility’s opening. Earlier planning materials associated with the project had referred to more than 250 potential careers, but AAR’s opening-day announcement specified 200 new full-time jobs.
Local education partnerships will support hiring
The expansion’s impact will extend beyond the hangar itself. AAR is recruiting for the new positions through its existing workforce development pipeline and partnerships with local educational institutions.
Those partnerships include initiatives involving Miami Dade College and other regional education and training programs. The goal is to connect local residents with aviation maintenance careers and help build a larger pipeline of mechanics and related technical workers.
Aircraft maintenance jobs typically require specialized technical training, regulatory certifications and hands-on experience. By working with local schools, AAR can introduce students to career paths in airframe maintenance, inspection, engineering and aviation operations.
Local education partnerships are expected to help AAR recruit and train workers for the new positions.
The workforce strategy also addresses a broader challenge facing the aviation industry: the need for qualified maintenance professionals as airline fleets expand and older aircraft require ongoing service.
For South Florida, those jobs can create opportunities in a specialized sector with connections to airlines, airports, manufacturers, parts suppliers and logistics companies. The hiring associated with the MIA expansion could also generate additional demand for contractors and service providers operating around the airport.
Residents interested in opportunities with the company can monitor AAR’s career openings and its EAGLE Pathway Program, which provides information for students and early-career candidates.
First aircraft expected this autumn
The new facility is not expected to sit idle after the ribbon-cutting. AAR said the first aircraft induction is planned for autumn 2026, beginning the transition from construction and commissioning to active maintenance operations.
Once fully active, the three heavy-maintenance lines will allow AAR to process multiple narrow-body aircraft through the hangar. The work will support United Airlines under the companies’ long-term maintenance arrangement.
Aircraft induction is a key operational milestone. It indicates that the facility, equipment, staffing and required systems are moving into service for commercial maintenance work. The timing will also provide an early measure of how quickly AAR can staff and ramp up the expanded operation.
The expanded hangar is designed for heavy maintenance on narrow-body commercial aircraft.
The project’s completion follows a construction timeline announced after Miami-Dade County approval in 2023. At that time, AAR said construction was expected to take approximately 24 months after groundbreaking.
What the expansion means for South Florida business
AAR’s expanded MIA footprint reflects the connection between airport infrastructure and the wider South Florida business environment.
The region’s aviation economy includes far more than passenger flights. It also includes aircraft repair, parts distribution, engineering, cargo, aircraft leasing, ground services, training and technology. Each additional maintenance line can support activity across that network.
The facility also strengthens Miami’s position as a base for aviation companies serving Latin American, Caribbean and U.S. markets. MIA’s location and airline connectivity make it a natural center for maintenance work tied to aircraft moving through the Western Hemisphere.
For Miami-Dade, the immediate result is a $50 million aviation facility and 200 expected full-time jobs. The longer-term effect will depend on AAR’s ability to maintain the United Airlines contract, recruit workers and operate the new lines at planned capacity.
The Aug. 17 ribbon-cutting therefore marked more than the opening of a new hangar. It marked the next phase of AAR’s investment in Miami and another expansion of the skilled aviation workforce supporting the region.
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