American Airlines receives $22M for Tulsa maintenance base

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Today, the State of Oklahoma’s Business Expansion Incentive Program granted American Airlines a $22 million award. These funds will be disbursed over a span of three years and are earmarked for the expansion and enhancement of American Airlines’ maintenance base and engine repair and overhaul facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as Tech Ops – Tulsa. Over the past three years, the airline has already invested over $400 million in improving the maintenance base.

Greg Emerson, American’s Vice President of Base Maintenance and Facilities, expressed gratitude to Governor Stitt, Lieutenant Governor Pinnell, and the State of Oklahoma Department of Commerce for acknowledging their team’s crucial work and supporting the future of their Tulsa maintenance base. He also highlighted American Airlines’ deep-rooted history in Oklahoma and how this investment will ensure a prosperous future. Additionally, he mentioned plans to hire more than 300 new team members for high-paying jobs, further strengthening their presence in the Tulsa community.

These funds supplement American Airlines’ recent $31.6 million capital injection into their engine shop to modernize machinery, as well as an ongoing multimillion-dollar improvement project at Tech Ops – Tulsa.

Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, who also serves as the Secretary of Workforce and Economic Development, emphasized the importance of supporting existing Oklahoma companies for the state’s business sector to thrive. He cited programs like the Business Expansion Incentive Program and the P3 Pooled Finance Program as vital resources that will help local companies grow, boost local economies, and advance the state’s progress.

Tech Ops – Tulsa, established as American’s primary site for airframe and engine maintenance and overhauls since 1946, holds the distinction of being the world’s largest commercial aviation maintenance base. Situated on 246 acres at Tulsa International Airport, it boasts approximately 3.3 million square feet of building space, including six hangars with 24 aircraft bays and 22 support facility buildings. Currently, the base employs nearly 5,000 team members, and it services over 800 of the airline’s aircraft annually.

This investment also creates promising career opportunities. American Airlines will hire more than 300 new team members at Tech Ops – Tulsa, strengthening the existing engine repair and overhaul workforce. These positions encompass licensed airframe and powerplant mechanics, engineers, machinists, welders, maintenance planners, and more, with annual compensation packages totaling nearly $120,000.

« Back to Page

• ANA Holdings Inc. Soars: Strong Financial Performance Revealed for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2024

• Air travel chaos continues across Paris despite strike cancellation

• Domestic air travel in Viet Nam set for surge during upcoming festive period  

• All that you need to know about Breeze’s new flight connecting Akron-Canton Airport to Myrtle Beach

• New developments of Middle East Airlines resuming flights to Paris