From Flight Attendant to Aircraft Maintenance Expert, Auguste Bajorunaite shares her transformational journey.
From serving passengers in aircraft cabins to calculating technical specifications and negotiating with clients – Auguste Bajorunaite’s career has taken quite a journey. She started in aviation as a flight attendant and fell in love with the industry. After years of international travel, Auguste made the leap to the Line Maintenance Department of FL Technics, global aircraft maintenance provider and part of Avia Solutions Group. She now works as Senior Sales Manager coordinating aircraft maintenance processes that keep flights safe every single day.
How did you get started in aviation?
This wasn’t some childhood dream of mine, like it is for many people. It all began quite simply – I spotted a job posting from Emirates for flight attendants. I was intrigued, took the chance, and started flying all over the world. That’s when I truly fell in love with aviation.
Later, I decided to study aviation management at Kazimieras Simonavicius University, which offered convenient remote learning options. When my flight attendant career came to an end, I knew one thing for certain – I didn’t want to leave aviation behind, but I was ready to come back down to earth, so to speak. That’s how FL Technics entered my life.
Do you miss being a flight attendant? What did you enjoy most about it?
I definitely miss the travel aspect – discovering new countries, experiencing different flavors and cultures. I’ve been to places I never would have thought to visit on my own. Over five years as a flight attendant, I met countless fascinating people. But working on the ground has its major advantages too, and right now, those are my priorities.
Which airport from all your travels stands out as your favorite? Why?
Koh Samui, Thailand, without question. It’s completely unlike any other airport – open-air, no typical airport vibe. Everything moves at a slower, more natural pace there. It feels like your vacation begins the moment you land. The best part? You can literally sit on the grass and watch planes take off and land right up close.
How has your perspective on aviation changed since joining FL Technics?
From the cabin aisle, aviation seems magical: travel, people, amazing experiences. But working at FL Technics introduced me to the engineering side of the industry – the technical behind-the-scenes world full of responsibility and intricate details that usually stay hidden as long as everything runs smoothly.
I came to understand just how much work, expertise, and split-second decision-making goes into getting an aircraft airborne. Every minute an aircraft sits on the ground isn’t just downtime – it is a significant cost for airlines. This gave me an even deeper respect for aviation and especially for the people who maintain these aircraft.
If you had to pick one aircraft component as your favorite, what would it be and why?
The engine. It might sound obvious, but I’m still amazed by how countless complex parts and technologies work together to generate the tremendous force needed to lift a massive aircraft into the sky.
Senior Sales Manager in Line Maintenance – that’s quite a title. What are your biggest workplace challenges?
Speed is the main challenge. Decisions often need to be made immediately, yet technical work can never be rushed – it demands precision, time, and careful thought. I have to communicate effectively with both technical teams and clients while managing everyone’s expectations. This requires tremendous responsibility and the ability to work under pressure. Situations change rapidly in my line of work, so you must be ready to make decisions without hesitation.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
There’s no such thing as typical! One day I might be in client meetings or calls, running calculations for various projects. The next day, we get a sudden AOG (Aircraft on Ground) situation – meaning a plane can’t fly due to technical issues – that needs resolving within hours. Even when you plan your day one way, aviation has a habit of rewriting those plans. It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday morning or 5 PM on a Friday – as my colleague and I joke, if something’s going to happen, it’ll happen at the most inconvenient moment possible. That’s aviation for you – you must always be ready for anything.
What I love is that the work never gets stagnant. We travel for business, attend trade shows – it’s a great opportunity to see the world again, meet clients face-to-face, and discuss not just business but the industry’s inner workings. These personal interactions often accomplish far more than endless email chains.
What qualities are essential for someone wanting to work in your position?
This role demands excellent self-discipline and the ability to prioritize, since you’re often juggling multiple projects simultaneously. You need to be detail-oriented, quick to grasp changing situations, and highly observant. Communication is absolutely crucial – client relationships aren’t built overnight. Trust is earned through consistent, reliable work. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula in this business. You have to think on your feet, propose solutions, and never stop learning.
What trends are you seeing in the aircraft maintenance market?
Demand for aviation technical maintenance (MRO) is growing noticeably worldwide – various sources report 3-5% annual growth on average. This surge is driven by passenger traffic recovering post-pandemic, increasing aircraft numbers and flight frequencies, aging aircraft fleets, and airlines working to optimize operational costs while maintaining high reliability and efficiency standards. We’re also seeing more new aircraft models entering service, all requiring fast, high-quality maintenance.
How do you expect these trends to impact FL Technics over the next five years?
First, growing global flight volumes and maintenance demand will increase our workload significantly. Second, more competitors will enter the MRO market, intensifying competitive pressure – quality, speed, and pricing will become even more critical differentiators. Third, and most importantly, we’re facing an engineer shortage. Without skilled engineers, maintaining service excellence becomes impossible, so attracting and retaining qualified specialists will be our top priority.
