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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Citadel Completions Plans Aircraft Center at Chennault Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana

05/18/2018
Citadel Completions will make a $17.6 million capital investment and hire more than 250 people for an aircraft center dedicated to interior jet modifications and maintenance at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

As a newly established aerospace company, Citadel will provide full-scale interior completions for luxury and commercial aircraft, such as Boeing 737, 747, 767 and 777 jets, along with Airbus A330 and A340 jets. In addition to providing jet interior modifications, Citadel Completions will perform MRO, or maintenance, repair and overhaul, services, as space is available.

At Chennault, Citadel Completions will occupy Hangar D (with 150,000 square feet of space), Hanger H (112,000 square feet) and a separate administrative building with 19,000 square feet.

“We are excited to begin operations at the Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles,” said Citadel Completions Managing Director Joe Bonita. “The infrastructure at Chennault is modern and well-suited for aircraft interior completion and MRO operations. The airport and local community have been extremely welcoming, and we look forward to working together to build a world-class business at this incredible facility.”

According to Louisiana Economic Development Citadel Completions, an entity created and financed by Las Vegas entrepreneur and businessman Sheldon G. Adelson, will include a seasoned team of aviation professionals who design and engineer luxury interiors for a variety of narrow, and wide-body aircraft. Customers will range from private owners and VIP jet groups to government operators.

LED began reviewing project possibilities in May 2017 and in November 2017 entered discussions with the entity that formally would become Citadel Completions LLC.

To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive package that includes a performance-based grant of $7 million to defray the cost of facility modifications, payable in seven consecutive yearly installments, along with a $2 million performance-based grant for lease support. In addition, the company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programs.

“Louisiana’s established advanced manufacturing capacity provides unparalleled advantages for aviation and aerospace companies,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “That’s particularly true in Southwest Louisiana, where Chennault International Airport is one of our state’s great aviation assets. Citadel Completions has recognized the value of this facility and our exceptional workforce, and we congratulate the company on choosing Lake Charles for their completion center, which will bring high-paying jobs and new careers in aviation to this region.”

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