ITOCHU Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Keita Ishii; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) has made a strategic investment in Killick Aerospace Limited (Headquarters: Ireland; CEO: Russell Starr; hereinafter “Killick”), a leading global supplier of aftermarket solutions for airlines, MROs, lessors and asset managers. Killick specializes in providing Commercial Aircraft and Engine solutions for Airbus and Boeing platforms.
This investment marks ITOCHU's entry into the aircraft aftermarket business, complementing its existing aircraft leasing operations.
The aircraft aftermarket industry is projected to experience significant growth, driven by a robust recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the maintenance of Commercial Aircraft, the use of not only newly manufactured parts but also parts that have been re-certified by approved repair facilities – Used Serviceable Material or ‘USM’ has been increasing year by year. The demand for USM is expected to grow to approximately 11 billion USD by 2032, about 1.5 times the current level※1. With air passenger demand surpassing all time highs, the need for Killick's USM solutions has never been
greater. Utilizing USM not only reduces costs for airlines but also shortens lead times for parts procurement and supports environmental sustainability.
For nearly 20 years, Killick has been a leader in the aircraft aftermarket industry. Headquartered in Ireland, the company operates in key global markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia.
In recent years, Killick has expanded its offerings beyond its core USM business to include the distribution of Nitrogen Generation System (NGS) components and other critical equipment manufactured by Honeywell for Boeing aircraft types.
With distribution centers in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, Killick offers a comprehensive inventory of immediately available equipment, ensuring world-class service for all its clients globally.
ITOCHU has a long-standing presence in the commercial aerospace business, through its aircraft leasing and management offerings. By creating synergies between ITOCHU’s capabilities and Killick’s aftermarket services, the partnership will deliver high-quality, customer-focused solutions that meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry. ITOCHU has put forth a management policy, “The Brand-New Deal: Profit opportunities are shifting downstream,” and is accelerating growth investments starting downstream, and further expanding business areas.
Alongside the partnership with Killick, ITOCHU aims to expand commercial aviation business areas, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the aviation industry.