Colombia offers a compelling case study for MRO market dynamics, revealing both structural strengths and operational challenges that mirror broader global trends.
Strategic Geography and Air Traffic Trends
Colombia’s unique geography—dense urban centers separated by mountains, rainforests, and coastlines—has entrenched air travel as the dominant form of national transportation. As of 2025, Colombia has the third-largest domestic airline capacity in South America, with over 4.1 million monthly seats, following only Brazil and Argentina. Thanks to its role a Avianca hub, offering global connectivity to South America, Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport has emerged as the busiest in Latin America, surpassing Mexico City’s Benito Juarez in 2024.
Colombia’s air market remains competitive yet volatile. Recent exits of low-cost carriers Viva and Ultra Air have consolidated market power around Avianca and LATAM Colombia, which now hold over 80 percent of domestic capacity. Meanwhile, the Chilean airline JetSMART has begun operating in the country, highlighting the cyclical opportunities created by regional airline churn.
Fleet Composition and Implications for MRO
The country’s civil fleet is concentrated around narrowbody Airbus models. Fleet density and legacy equipment drive consistent MRO requirements across airframes, interiors, and avionics. The need is particularly acute in domestic markets, where frequent short-haul operations result in accelerated wear and tear.
- Avianca Colombia operates 126 aircraft, primarily A320-family
- LATAM and JetSMART collectively operate an additional 20 narrowbodies in Colombia
The Colombian Air Force, Latin America’s most operationally active, maintains nearly 300 aircraft, including large transports like the C-130 and Boeing 737s, representing significant demand for both civil and military MRO. The Colombian National Army Aviation maintains a significant fleet, including 163 aircraft with 141 helicopters such as the UH-1 Iroquois, Mil Mi-17, and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.
Colombia’s regional and general aviation sectors are growing particularly in underserved and remote areas. For instance, SATENA, the state-owned airline, is expanding its fleet to enhance connectivity. As of December 2024, SATENA operates a fleet that includes ATR 42-500, ATR 42-600, ATR 72-600, Embraer ERJ-145, and Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft. A growing demand for MRO services to support these aircraft would be concentrated in less urban regions, where infrastructure development is ongoing.
MRO Market Structure and Trends
Colombia’s MRO sector is led by two major players: Avianca’s Aeronautical Maintenance Center in Rionegro—one of the most advanced in the region—and the state-owned CIAC (Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation), which services both civil and defense aircraft. CIAC is the only Colombian entity authorized to conduct heavy maintenance on the Airbus C-295 and has grown its commercial market presence over the last five years.
Globally, aircraft interior MRO is forecasted to reach $8.83 billion by 2030, with Latin America expected to grow above 3% annually. In Colombia, CIF import data for aircraft seats, as an example, surged dramatically from an average of $1.4 million annually (2014–2020) to a peak of $30.9 million in 2022—before falling back to $8.7 million in 2024 following airline exits. Key demand areas for MRO can be organized as below:
- Engine MRO: Ensuring the reliability and performance of aircraft engines.
- Component and Modifications MRO: Upgrading and maintaining aircraft components to meet evolving standards.
- Interior MRO: Refurbishing cabin interiors to enhance passenger comfort and comply with regulations.
Growth Drivers and Emerging Challenges
Key growth drivers include:
- Ever-increasing demand for air travel: As with the rest of the planet, Colombia is increasingly global and the more economical air travel becomes the more demand there is the more accessible airlines can make air travel, etc.
- Sustainability: Energy-efficient MRO facilities and recyclable cabin materials are gaining traction. Avianca’s Rionegro center became the first outside the U.S. to achieve LEED Gold certification.
- Seat densification: Airlines are increasing cabin capacity, prompting higher MRO turnover due to accelerated refurbishment needs.
Major challenges involve skilled labor shortages, post-COVID workforce attrition, and component supply chain disruptions. These factors are leading to aircraft delivery delays and maintenance bottlenecks. MRO providers with proximity to fleet hubs and responsive turnaround capacity will be best positioned to fill these service gaps.
Strategic Positioning and Entry Points
Colombia’s MRO landscape is supported by a robust aerospace ecosystem of regional clusters, national associations (like FEDIAC and ACOPAER), and trade shows such as F-AIR Colombia and the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association’s (ALTA) CCMA & MRO Conference. Companies aiming to enter or expand in the region should leverage these platforms for network building, regulatory alignment, and potential partnerships.
Some food for thought for NC MRO exporters can include suggestions like those below.
- Establish Facilities in Strategic Locations: Setting up MRO centers near major airports and aviation hubs to serve the growing fleet.
- Invest in Training and Workforce Development: Addressing the need for skilled technicians to perform specialized maintenance tasks.
- Collaborate with Government and Military Entities: Providing maintenance services for government-operated aircraft, including those used for defense and public service missions.
Saludos!