Satair, an Airbus subsidiary, announced an agreement on 7 November to acquire Unical Aviation Inc., a major global provider of Used Serviceable Material (USM), from private equity firm Platinum Equity. The deal, which includes Unical’s aircraft disassembly and storage subsidiary ecube Solutions, will significantly expand Airbus’s role in the aerospace aftermarket. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The sale is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be finalized in early 2026.
The acquisition of Unical, a U.S. company, marks a major strategic move for Satair, substantially growing its footprint in the lucrative aircraft aftermarket, particularly in USM and end-of-life services. This deal follows Satair’s 2022 acquisition of VAS Aero Services, signaling a clear and aggressive strategy by Airbus to build a comprehensive, integrated lifecycle solution. By bringing Unical and ecube into its portfolio, Satair aims to capture value across the entire aircraft lifecycle, from initial component supply to sustainable material recovery and disassembly.
The acquisition will add seven operational sites and offices across North America, Spain, and the United Kingdom to Satair’s global network, along with Unical’s 413 employees and a combined 2024 revenue of $298 million.
“At its core, this acquisition is about enhancing aircraft lifecycle management capabilities in the aerospace aftermarket,” said Richard Stoddart, CEO of Satair and Head of Airbus Material Services. “Prolonging the lifespan of material resources is essential not only to maximise asset value, but also to establish responsible material practices that support the industry’s long-term sustainability.”
The sale concludes a four-year holding period for Platinum Equity, which acquired Unical in 2021. During that time, the private equity firm executed a transformation program to modernize the Glendale, Arizona-based aviation supplier.
This included recruiting a new leadership team, upgrading technology platforms with new ERP and e-commerce systems, and diversifying Unical’s inventory to include parts for narrowbody and next-generation aircraft.
A key part of Platinum’s strategy was the add-on acquisition of ecube, which expanded Unical’s capabilities into aircraft storage, disassembly, and transition services with facilities in Wales, Spain, and Arizona.
This move made the combined entity a more integrated and attractive asset for a strategic buyer like Satair, which is increasingly focused on sustainability and circularity in the aerospace supply chain.