Western Global Airlines (WGA) has launched a new base maintenance facility at Arkansas International Airport in Blytheville, featuring a 50,000-square-foot hangar—the largest at the Aeroplex—and 40,000 square feet of storage space.
The facility is expected to create between 60 and 75 jobs, with maintenance operations scheduled to begin in June 2025.
“We are pleased to announce the relocation of our base maintenance operations from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Blytheville,” said James K. Neff, WGA’s CEO and founder. He highlighted the site’s superior back shop capabilities, supportive airport authority, and more affordable cost of living as key reasons for the move.
Founded in 2013, WGA is an FAA Part 121 certified cargo airline operating globally. The airline services major airlines, multinational freight forwarders, and the U.S. Air Mobility Command with its fleet of fourteen Boeing 747-400Fs and MD-11Fs, having transported millions of tons of wide-body cargo to more than 400 cities across 135 countries.
As part of the Blytheville expansion, WGA plans to partner with Aviation Repair Technologies, an FAA and EASA-certified repair station specializing in component maintenance, parts sales, and logistics. The proximity to this company was another important factor in selecting the Aeroplex.
Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson welcomed the development, calling the Aeroplex a vital economic asset and expressing optimism that WGA’s presence would strengthen the region’s role as a key logistics hub for freight and cargo operations in the future.
