Airlines Put Arinc Up for Sale

The airlines that own Arinc are interested in selling the 77-year-old aviation communications company. Based in Annapolis, Md., Arinc posted revenues of $890 million last year, but its owners, including financially troubled carriers Delta and American, are said to be reluctant to make necessary investments in the company. No potential buyers have yet come forward, according to people with knowledge of plans in the works, but Arinc is thought to be worth as much as $1 billion. Subsidiary Arinc Direct provides maintenance and flight planning services to business jet operators, as well as the SkyLink high-speed data communications system flying on Gulfstreams. Arinc is also involved in a project with Norway’s Telenor to bring cellphone calling to airplanes. Called AeroMobile, the service will soon be offered as a factory option on Boeing widebodies and could find a ready market among business aircraft buyers. Analysts predict Arinc will be sold off in pieces.