How Hussein Lookmanjee is Driving Change at DTX Group
To learn more about key aspirations for DTX Group and its new functions, Aviation Pros spoke with Chairman Hussein Lookmanjee about his upcoming plans for the reimagined organization.
DTX Group recently divested from Drayton Aerospace to operate as an independent entity in the aviation maintenance sector, with Hussein Lookmanjee at the head of the new company.
In an announcement previously shared by Aviation Pros, DTX Group explained, “Formally established in September 2024, DTX Group is headquartered in the Middle East, with its parts trading business operating in the United States and two MRO facilities located in Brazil. The group is on track to launch a new MRO facility in the Middle East by Q3 2025, with additional expansion targeted across Africa and Europe.”
Lookmanjee has worked in the aviation maintenance sector for over two decades, with past success in expanding into new markets, opening new maintenance facilities across the globe and bolstering Drayton Aerospace’s parts distribution business.
As noted by his colleagues, “His leadership positioned Drayton Aerospace as a leading independent player in the civil and freight aviation MRO markets.”
When asked about his expertise, Lookmanjee discussed how his work at Drayton Aerospace and other areas of the aviation maintenance sector have informed his plans for DTX Group.
He said, “Drayton Aerospace cut its teeth on emerging markets, navigating the complexities of different cultures, less mature markets and dynamic regulations. DTX Group will focus on the similar markets targeting green field or first-mover advantages in emerging markets.”
This expansion into new markets related directly to Lookmanjee’s hopes for reshaping the international aviation maintenance landscape at DTX Group.
Lookmanjee shared, “My basic philosophy has always been that planes are mobile, so they should leverage the strengths of the global supply chain and aftermarket support network.”
“We hope to shape the industry by giving operators more options to benefit from a strong global footprint by providing them more options to reduce costs ensuring stronger fundamentals to a challenging industry,” he added.
In regard to the services DTX Group plans to offer as it begins operating as its own entity and expanding into new markets, Lookmanjee stated, “Our core is maintenance. It’s what we do well and has driven our growth.”
He continued, “We will continue to drive growth in the space, but we will also independently start to drive growth in parts distribution with a focus on PMA development as well as aircraft teardown. There are opportunities in both spaces in emerging markets both in terms of a destination and source of parts.”
Speaking more about these opportunities for new growth, Lookmanjee elaborated on his goals for DTX Group’s increasing global reach.
He said, “I expect DTX to establish presence in Africa in both maintenance and also taking a position in an emerging airline. We are targeting maintenance operations in India and are currently discussing a potential acquisition. We will also move into the PMA space, as we feel this complements our maintenance capability, and we see growing adoption in emerging markets.”
In an era of economic unpredictability with the potential impact of tariffs still largely uncertain, notably in areas like parts trading and aircraft sales, Lookmanjee maintained his confidence in DTX Group’s ability to thrive.
He noted, “We have not seen an impact yet, but we expect that with lower fuel price and continued engine and supply chain issues, legacy aircraft will fly longer, driving USM opportunities for the short-to-medium term.”
Lookmanjee also mentioned a few next-generation technology applications that DTX Group have adopted and used to support operations at its maintenance facilities. While he noted that DTX Group has been actively using new technologies like AI and drones for various applications, Lookmanjee asserted, “We will continue to drive business efficiency through those technologies, but our focus is in driving competitiveness from our emerging market strategy.”
After speaking about his goals for DTX Group, like making a larger impact in the global MRO and parts manufacturing and trading markets, Hussein Lookmanjee also noted his aspirations for the future of aviation maintenance in general.
Lookmanjee said, “I hope to see more companies venture out of their comfort zones and embrace the opportunities in emerging markets. All these markets still require a community to be successful, and we welcome and would happy to extend a hand to partners in this industry to explore new markets.”
He continued, “Additionally, I hope that Airline Operators also embrace a community approach and see aftermarket service providers as partners and not adversaries.”
Some of the biggest challenges in emerging markets is that operators see the relationship as win-or-lose; they take an aggressive approach to the relationship rather than a collaborative approach where both sides work together to expand their services and solutions to benefit both [parties],” Lookmanjee concluded.
