Oklahoma City is set to reinforce its position within the United States aerospace and aviation maintenance sector with the formal opening of a new aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Will Rogers International Airport. A grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting event will take place at 10am on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, marking the completion of the newest commercial airport hangar in the state of Oklahoma.
The event is being hosted jointly by the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, AAR Corporation, JE Dunn Construction, and the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. Together, the organisations are celebrating not only the opening of the facility but also nearly a century of aviation development in the greater Oklahoma City region.
The newly constructed Hangar 4 is a three-bay Boeing 737 maintenance hangar located on the AAR Oklahoma City Campus. It is described as the most modern commercial hangar currently operating in Oklahoma and has been designed to support the growing demands of the national aerospace industry. The facility significantly expands maintenance capacity at the airport and strengthens the region’s appeal to commercial aviation operators seeking long-term, high-quality MRO services.
The dedication ceremony is open to the public, reflecting the organisers’ intention to position the project as a community milestone rather than a closed corporate event. Attendees are expected to include local and state public officials, corporate leaders, industry partners, community representatives and a group of Oklahoma high school students pursuing aviation-focused education pathways.
From a business and infrastructure perspective, the project highlights sustained investment in aviation assets at a time when airlines and lessors are prioritising fleet efficiency, safety compliance and domestic maintenance capability. The addition of a three-bay narrowbody hangar enables simultaneous aircraft servicing, supporting faster turnaround times and improved operational resilience for airline customers.
The involvement of AAR Corporation, a major global provider of aviation services, signals confidence in Oklahoma City as a strategic MRO location. The company’s Oklahoma City campus has steadily expanded its footprint, and the new hangar reinforces the airport’s role as a long-term base for commercial aircraft maintenance operations in the central United States.
Construction of the facility was led by JE Dunn Construction, whose role encompassed the delivery of a complex, aviation-grade structure designed to meet stringent regulatory, engineering and safety requirements. The hangar incorporates modern architectural design, advanced structural systems and specialised infrastructure to accommodate Boeing 737 aircraft, one of the most widely used commercial airframes globally.
Beyond its immediate operational function, the facility is positioned as an economic development asset. Airport officials and state aviation leaders view the project as a contributor to job creation, workforce development and the retention of aerospace skills within Oklahoma. The inclusion of aviation high school students at the ceremony underscores a broader focus on developing future talent pipelines aligned with industry demand.
The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics has consistently promoted the state as a centre for aviation manufacturing, maintenance and training. The opening of Hangar 4 aligns with that strategy, reinforcing Oklahoma’s reputation as a location capable of supporting complex aerospace operations while maintaining strong links between industry, education and public infrastructure.
For the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, the project represents a tangible return on long-term planning and investment at Will Rogers International Airport. By expanding modern hangar capacity, the airport enhances its competitiveness while supporting tenants that contribute to regional economic stability.
As the ribbon is cut on 28 January, the new MRO hangar will stand as both a symbol of past aviation heritage and a forward-looking investment in the future of commercial aircraft maintenance. For Oklahoma City, the facility reflects a continued commitment to aviation as a cornerstone of regional growth, innovation and skilled employment.
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