Park Aerospace has announced plans to invest $65m in a new advanced composite materials manufacturing facility at Tulsa International Airport, further strengthening Oklahoma’s position as a growing hub for aerospace manufacturing.
The new facility will be built on an 18-acre site within the airport’s North Development Area, with construction expected to begin shortly. The plant is scheduled for completion in 2028 and is expected to create more than 100 jobs once operational.
Park Aerospace, which has been supplying the aerospace industry for more than 50 years, manufactures advanced composite materials used in commercial aviation and defence applications. The investment marks a significant expansion for the company as demand for high-performance aerospace materials continues to grow.
Brian Shore, chairman and CEO of Park Aerospace, said the move represented a new chapter in the company’s history.
“Thank you, Oklahoma, thank you, Tulsa, and thank you, Tulsa International Airport, for welcoming Park Aerospace to your state, your community and your wonderful airport,” he said. “Park has come a very long way since we started in 1954 with almost nothing in that little garage in Woodside, Queens, but, to us, our new home at the Tulsa International Airport represents an exciting new beginning for our Company.”
Airport officials said the investment reflects the strength of Tulsa’s aerospace ecosystem, which combines established aviation infrastructure with a skilled workforce and education pipeline.
Alexis Higgins, CEO of Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, said companies increasingly choose locations based on access to talent, infrastructure and long-term partnerships.
“They choose places where they can find talent, infrastructure and partners who are invested in their success. That’s exactly what we’ve built at Tulsa International Airport,” Higgins said.
Park Aerospace becomes the latest aerospace manufacturer to expand at Tulsa International Airport, joining a series of recent investments that include Agile Space Industries’ propulsion testing and manufacturing expansion, Quantum Space’s spacecraft manufacturing facility and continued growth by Lufthansa Technik Component Services.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said the investment demonstrated the state’s growing competitiveness in aerospace manufacturing.
“This investment is another powerful example of Oklahoma’s aerospace industry continuing to grow and compete on a global stage,” he said. “Park Aerospace’s decision to expand in Tulsa reflects the strength of our workforce, our pro-business environment and the momentum we’re building as a destination for advanced aerospace manufacturing.”
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols added that the announcement reinforced the city’s long-standing aviation heritage while highlighting its future as a centre for advanced manufacturing and aerospace innovation. The announcement was made during the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK in partnership with the State of Oklahoma.
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