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Setna Buys J&C Aero Majority Stake, Adding Engineering Capability
Setna iO is boosting its aircraft interiors capabilities by acquiring a majority stake in J&C Aero, a cabin interiors specialist based in Vilnius, Lithuania. The deal will diversify Setna iO’s portfolio to include Part 21 design and production and help J&C Aero continue its expansion trajectory.
According to Setna iO CEO David Chaimovitz, the move strengthens the company’s position across the aircraft lifecycle. He notes that Setna iO was particularly drawn to J&C’s engineering capabilities and regulatory standing.
“As the previous generation of aircraft continue to age while still being in high demand, we are confident that cabin restoration services will provide growth far beyond the global MRO growth estimate of CAGR of 3-5%,” he tells Aviation Week. “J&C is a real solutions provider with top level design and manufacturing capability. Their large stack of proprietary manufacturing and repair capability will prove invaluable to the airlines for the coming decades.”
J&C Aero has European Union Aviation Safety Agency Part 21J Design and Part 21G Production certification, as well as Part 145 maintenance and continuing airworthiness management organization capabilities. The company recently brought all of its activities under one roof at a new 39,000 ft.2 cabin hub in Vilnius.
The new facility introduced turnkey aircraft retrofits to J&C Aero’s portfolio, and the company expects it will reduce reliance on subcontractors by enabling in-house manufacturing of parts.
J&C Aero’s five founders will retain “significant equity” and continue leading daily operations under the new ownership structure, according to the companies. CEO Laurynas Skukauskas says the partnership is designed to strengthen the company’s trajectory, adding, “Together, we see clear opportunities to expand internationally and continue developing our capabilities, while keeping the same team and approach that brought us here.”
The majority stake follows Setna iO’s acquisitions of two Florida-based component MRO providers—Landing Gear Technologies and Zulu Global—in 2025. In September, Chaimovitz teased an upcoming acquisition and told Aviation Week that acquisitions and global expansions were on track to quadruple the company’s earnings in 2026.
Bringing MRO capabilities in-house will play a significant part in this projected growth. Chaimovitz expects the MRO portion of Setna iO’s business to increase to around 20% by later this year, and the company tells Aviation Week it is saving on repair costs by buying MROs. J&C Aero has in-house capabilities for repairing, refurbishing and painting cabin interior parts.
Setna iO expects to complete the J&C Aero transaction in the second quarter, subject to regulatory approvals. The company is not currently disclosing the purchase price or percentage of stake.
Setna iO is not the only company with MRO and parts distribution businesses to have recently added aircraft interior engineering capabilities via acquisitions. AAR Corp. entered a definitive agreement to purchase Aircraft Reconfig Technologies for $35 million in December 2025.
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