AAR Acquires Aircraft Interiors Specialist

AAR Corp. is continuing its spree of aftermarket acquisitions, this time with a focus on boosting its aircraft interior engineering capabilities.

On Dec. 17, AAR entered a definitive agreement to purchase Aircraft Reconfig Technologies (ART) from ZIM Aircraft Cabin Solutions through a $35 million all-cash transaction.

ART is a Greensboro, North Carolina-based aircraft interiors engineering company that specializes in passenger aircraft configuration for airlines, including services such as project management, engineering and certification. The company holds FAA Part 21 and organization design authorization (ODA) certifications, with a portfolio that includes parts manufacturer approval (PMA), supplemental type certificates and patents.

AAR says the acquisition will expand the engineering and certification capabilities in its repair and engineering business, giving it the ability to perform more complex aircraft modification work to complement its MRO services. Its engineering services business, based in Indianapolis, offers services such as integration, engineering design, manufacturing and kitting, and cabin, structural and systems modifications.

While AAR’s engineering services business already has more than 80 supplemental type certificates, amendments and validations from the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, it says ART’s ODA designation will minimize its reliance on third parties for design certification.

Tom Hoferer, AAR’s senior vice president of repair and engineering, says the acquisition means AAR “will be able to bring certification for our engineering solutions in-house, which will enhance our offerings to customers and create opportunities for AAR to pursue additional work.”

AAR expects to close the transaction in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

In its most recent financial results, released Sept. 23, AAR reported a 12% increase in sales, totaling $740 million. According to AAR’s Chairman, President and CEO John Holmes, this increase was primarily driven by the company’s repair and engineering and parts supply businesses.

AAR had already recently grown its parts business through the acquisition of Triumph Group’s Product Support business in March 2024, which was part of efforts to boost its PMA portfolio.

Last month, AAR acquired HAECO Americas for $78 million, significantly boosting its heavy maintenance capacity in the U.S. HAECO Americas operates a hangar in Greensboro, giving it close proximity to ART. Potentially worth noting is that ART owner ZIM Aircraft Cabin Solutions acquired HAECO Cabin Solutions, the MRO provider’s former cabin interiors subsidiary, in 2022.