The Xtreme Group Plots MRO Growth To Support 7Air Cargo Subsidiary

South Florida-based aviation services provider The Xtreme Group launched its own cargo airline in May. Now, the company is expanding the maintenance capabilities of its verticals to support its planned cargo growth.

The Xtreme Group (TXG) launched 7Air in May and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 11 at Miami International Airport (MIA), where it now operates cargo flights to cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala; Managua, Nicaragua; San Jose, Costa Rica; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. John’s, Antigua. 7Air operates an all Boeing 787-800 freighter fleet, and it took delivery of its fourth aircraft this week. The airline plans to continue building its customer base and hopes to take market share in the Caribbean and Central America.

TXG CEO Carlos Cock tells Aviation Week Network that the group’s MRO subsidiaries—which include aircraft MRO provider Xtreme Aviation and engine MRO provider AeroThrust—played a key role in preparing 7Air’s fleet for operations.

“All maintenance-related items for our airline are handled by Xtreme Aviation. They were key in the process of aircraft pre-inspection and maintenance work to bring the aircraft up to bridging conformity for the airline,” Cock says. The intent is to have AeroThrust, which specializes in CFM International CFM56 services, provide all engine work for 7Air in the future.

“Our shop is designed to take full restoration of [CFM56] engines, so we’re able to go from A to Z in the work scope on those particular engines,” Cock says. AeroThrust’s 65,000 ft.2 facility in Davie, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), can hold up to 20 engines simultaneously.

Cock says 7Air plans to add four more 737-800s by next year. “We only operate 737-800 freighters. That is our preferred aircraft, and I think for the first two years, our plan is to remain with that one type of aircraft,” he says. “All of our aircraft are on lease. We are looking to purchase our own, maybe [in the] third quarter of next year ... but for the immediate needs, we will continue to use our leased aircraft.”

Beyond supporting TXG’s cargo operations, Xtreme Aviation also offers line and heavy maintenance, field services and aircraft-on-ground recovery services to third-party customers. Cock says Xtreme Aviation does a lot of heavy maintenance for cargo carriers such as Atlas Air and DHL, and it performs line maintenance for customers such as JetBlue and Spirit Airlines. 

Xtreme Aviation is building a new 70,000 ft.2 hangar at FLL, which is on track to open in the second or third quarter of 2026. The facility is expected to create 300-400 new jobs.

Like most other MRO providers, Cock says TXG has had challenges finding enough qualified labor. One strategy the company has deployed to boost its workforce pipeline is partnering with the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS). “We provide a platform for [BITTS students] to get hands-on training after they go through [the program’s] courses, which are all theory-based. Then we provide the platform at our hangar facility and engine shop for them to develop those skills and continue their training,” Cock says.

Internal technician training is also a key factor in TXG’s workforce strategy. “We guide them all the way through obtaining their [airframe and powerplant licenses], if that’s the path they wish to choose, and we’re going to be starting a similar program for our 7Air pilots as well,” he says. “Providing training, tools and guidance to the younger generation has been very key for us, and we’ve been able to engage with local and state authorities on grants [to fund] these training programs. We’re really trying to mentor and produce our own workforce because it’s really tough out there.”

In addition to 7Air, Xtreme Aviation and AeroThrust, TXG’s portfolio also includes Aventus Air Leasing II, which specializes in aircraft, engine and asset sales and leasing.

Cock says TXG has around 600 staff across its verticals, which he hopes to grow to around 900 when Xtreme Aviation’s FLL hangar begins operations.