SkyWest Airlines to Open Aircraft Maintenance Facility at Salina Regional Airport

SkyWest Airlines, the world's largest regional air carrier, has selected the Salina Regional Airport (SLN) to establish an aircraft maintenance facility.

The Kansas location will help support maintenance on some of SkyWest's fleet of 500+ regional jets, including the aircraft currently operating United Express flights in and out of Salina.

SkyWest's maintenance base will initially create several new, high-paying jobs at the Salina Airport and is expected to be operational by early spring 2026. These new positions are in addition to existing customer service staff based at the airport. Those interested in joining the SkyWest team of technicians can apply at https://www.skywest.com/mechanic.

The new location will support SkyWest's passenger service for business and leisure travelers. SkyWest operates multiple daily flights as United Express to Denver, Chicago, and Houston from Salina, providing connectivity to United's global network.

SkyWest's decision to open the Salina maintenance base is aligned with Governor Laura Kelly's initiative to expand aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations across Kansas. The project was made possible by support from the Kansas Department of Commerce, City of Salina, Saline County, Salina Airport Authority, and the Salina Community Economic Development Organization.

"SkyWest's decision to establish a maintenance base in Salina reflects Kansas' ability to compete and deliver for world-class aviation partners," Kansas Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Joshua Jefferson said. "We've made deliberate investments in workforce, infrastructure and airport readiness, and this announcement shows that those efforts are paying off."

Salina Airport Authority executive director Pieter Miller said SkyWest adds to a growing aviation ecosystem that includes the Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus, Textron, and Garmin.

He added that the SkyWest Salina maintenance facility will support the development and growth of Salina flights to United Airlines' hubs.

"We are excited to establish a maintenance presence in Salina," said Joe Sigg, SkyWest's VP of Maintenance. "We appreciate the local and statewide support and look forward to building a team of technicians dedicated to SkyWest's standards of excellence here in Salina."