JetBlue Airways has become the launch airline customer for a new $70m aircraft maintenance facility being developed at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic by FL Technics.
The agreement will see FL Technics service JetBlue’s narrow-body aircraft at the new facility, which is nearing completion and is expected to open later this year. The deal marks a key milestone for the project and underscores Punta Cana’s growing role as an aviation hub in the Caribbean.
The facility is being developed as part of a joint investment between FL Technics and Grupo Puntacana, with a long-term plan to establish a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre capable of serving both airlines and aircraft lessors.
Designed to expand in phases, the site will initially create more than 300 technical and support jobs, with potential to grow to around 2,000 roles as capacity increases.
FL Technics said the location, adjacent to one of the Caribbean’s busiest airports, will allow airlines to carry out heavy maintenance work closer to their operating networks, reducing the need to ferry aircraft overseas for servicing and improving operational efficiency.
Chief executive Žilvinas Lapinskas said securing JetBlue as the first customer was a significant step for the project, describing the airline as a “quality-driven” partner and highlighting the long-term growth potential of the Punta Cana hub.
For JetBlue, the move strengthens its presence in the Dominican Republic, one of its largest international markets. The airline said access to local maintenance capacity will provide greater flexibility in scheduling inspections and repairs, supporting more efficient and reliable operations.
The development reflects broader efforts to expand aviation infrastructure in the Caribbean, where rising traffic and limited local maintenance capacity have historically forced airlines to rely on facilities outside the region.