FL Technics gets IDAC approval for Punta Cana maintenance hub

FL Technics has received certification from Dominican aviation regulator IDAC for its new maintenance hub in Punta Cana, clearing the way to serve local airlines and operators. The project adds a $70 million aviation facility in the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone and is expected to create hundreds of jobs while expanding MRO capacity across the Americas. Why it matters: - The IDAC certification allows FL Technics to begin certified aircraft maintenance work in the Dominican Republic. - The approval opens a new maintenance option for Dominican-registered aircraft and other operators needing regional MRO support. - The Punta Cana site is positioned as an emerging maintenance center for the Americas as demand for aircraft upkeep rises. What happened: - FL Technics received certification from the Instituto Dominicano De Aviación Civil for its new maintenance hub in Punta Cana. - The approval clears the company to launch services and deliver certified maintenance to local airlines and operators. - Zilvinas Lapinskas, CEO of FL Technics Group, said the certificate positions the company to support aviation growth in the region and provide reliable maintenance from Punta Cana. The details: - FL Technics is now a newly approved maintenance organization in the Dominican Republic. - The five-phase approval process included a pre-application assessment, documentation review, on-site inspections of systems and equipment, and checks of staff credentials before the certificate was issued. - The company said the certification was required to provide services to Dominican-registered aircraft and meet host-country regulatory standards. - Mejico Angeles Lithgow, CEO of FL Technics Dominican Republic, said the team’s work at each stage helped demonstrate readiness to operate to international standards. - The maintenance hangar is in the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone and covers 20,000 square meters. - The initial setup includes five maintenance bays. - FL Technics plans to expand the facility to 20 bays in the coming years. - The first phase will support heavy maintenance for Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family aircraft. - The project carries a $70 million investment. - FL Technics expects the site to create more than 300 local jobs in the near term and about 2,000 jobs overall. - The facility is designed to bring international standards for aircraft repair and flight safety to the site. - FL Technics will move ahead with client onboarding now that certification is secured. - The company plans to expand capabilities to serve more carriers across North, Central and South America. Between the lines: - The approval gives FL Technics a regulatory foothold in a market where local certification is essential for commercial work. - Punta Cana’s location and free trade zone status could make the hub attractive for airlines seeking maintenance capacity in the Caribbean and broader Americas region. - The project also signals a push by FL Technics to deepen its footprint beyond Europe and other existing global operations. What’s next: - FL Technics will begin onboarding clients for the Punta Cana hub. - The company plans to add maintenance capabilities over time as it invests in specialized training. - Expansion toward a larger bay count suggests the site will grow beyond its initial heavy-maintenance scope. - FL Technics expects broader global partnerships as the Dominican Republic operation scales.