Envoy to Expand Maintenance Facility at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Bringing New Jobs

Irving, Texas (April 21, 2026) – Envoy Air Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group (AAG), announced today that it will expand its aircraft maintenance facility and establish a Center of Excellence at the Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The company expects to create many new specialized aircraft maintenance jobs over two years as part of the expansion. The expansion represents a capital investment of more than $600,000.

As part of this expansion, Little Rock will become the company’s first Center of Excellence facility to support the Envoy aircraft maintenance operation. A Center of Excellence enables the LIT team to perform specialized aircraft maintenance tasks, such as advanced sheet metal and carbon composite work, landing gear inspections and more.

“We’re thrilled to announce this expansion of our Little Rock aircraft maintenance base, building on our presence at LIT that includes Maintenance, Customer Services, Stores and more,” said Jay Murray, Envoy Vice President, Maintenance. “This expansion is great for Envoy and the area, as it will create specialized jobs and economic growth the community.”

Murray was joined by Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Clint O’Neal, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Little Rock Regional Chamber President and CEO Jay Chesshir, Clinton National Airport Executive Director Suzanne Peyton, and numerous state and city officials and business leaders to mark this announcement.

“Arkansas’ aviation industry is continuing to take off, and Envoy’s investment is helping drive what comes next,” said Governor Sanders. “Envoy’s Center of Excellence brings advanced maintenance, specialized training, and high-skill careers together under one roof—giving Arkansas a lasting edge and putting us at the forefront of where companies choose to grow. We’re excited to see that future taking shape in our capital city.”

Envoy remains committed to keeping skilled professional jobs in the state of Arkansas. In addition to eight other aircraft maintenance facilities across the United States, Envoy also operates an aircraft maintenance base at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA). This location was established in 2004 and expanded in 2007 to support their growing fleet of Embraer 175 and 170 aircraft. Envoy also provides ground handling and customer services for American Airlines at both XNA and LIT, as well as at 120 other locations across North America and the Caribbean.

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“Envoy will reach new heights with its new Center of Excellence at Clinton National Airport in Little Rock. This expansion will create new jobs for Arkansans and represents a major win for our state’s aviation industry,” said Clint O’Neal, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “Envoy has found success in Arkansas since establishing its Little Rock maintenance base in 2016. We look forward to many more years of success from Envoy in Little Rock.”

“Envoy’s expansion and establishment of a Center of Excellence at Clinton National Airport further reinforces Little Rock’s position as a growing hub for aviation and advanced manufacturing,” said Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. “The City’s longtime partnership with Envoy and American Airlines demonstrates confidence in our community and our highly skilled workforce. We are grateful for this announcement and for the continued growth and opportunities at Clinton National Airport and across our City and region.”

“Today’s investment represents far more than a facility expansion—it is a strategic step toward elevating the metro Little Rock region as a premier hub for aviation and aerospace investment,” said Jay Chesshir, President and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “In an increasingly competitive, global economy, direct air service is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Strengthening the capabilities at Clinton National Airport positions our region to retain and grow direct flights, expand access to markets around the world, and compete for the next generation of employers and talent.”

“Clinton National Airport is grateful for our long-standing partnership with Envoy and American Airlines,” said Suzanne Peyton, Executive Director of Clinton National Airport. “This latest investment in our airport and community reflects continued growth and opportunity. The Center of Excellence will create and sustain quality jobs, further position us for new flights and generate meaningful economic impact for our region.”

About Envoy

Envoy Air Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, operates more than 170 Embraer aircraft on more than 1000 daily flights to over 165 destinations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and Caribbean.

More than 22,000 Envoy employees operate regional flights for American Airlines under the American Eagle brand and provide ground handling services for many American Airlines and American Eagle branded flights at 121 airport locations across North America and the Caribbean. The company was founded in 1998 as American Eagle Airlines, Inc., following the merger of several smaller regional carriers to create one of the largest regional airlines in the world. Envoy is headquartered in Irving, Texas, with hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and Miami, with a large ground handling operation in Los Angeles. Connect with Envoy on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

About American Airlines Group

American Airlines is a premium global airline connecting more of the U.S. to the world. With roots tracing back to an air mail carrier in the Midwestern United States in 1926, American now operates more than 6,000 daily flights to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries and serves more than 200 million customers annually. Powered by a proud and talented team of 130,000 aviation professionals, American’s team lives out the airline’s purpose of caring for people on life’s journey every day.

The world’s largest airline proudly celebrates its centennial year in 2026, reaching a milestone that reflects a century of innovation and the Forever Forward℠ spirit that changed the industry and the world. American introduced the first scheduled air cargo service, the first airport lounge and the first airline loyalty program and continues to reinvent the customer experience today. The airline is also a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe.

Get the latest about American at news.aa.com.

About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission

At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.

About the Little Rock Regional Chamber

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen. For more information, visit littlerockchamber.com.