John Holmes

Chief Executive Officer, President & Chairman of the Board, Aar

Search every verified John Holmes interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. During AAR's third quarter fiscal 2020 earnings call on December 1, 2020, Holmes reported record quarterly sales of $553 million, up 4% year-over-year, and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.67. He stated that the company had taken decisive action to exit one contract and restructure two others, resulting in a one-time charge of $24.7 million. Citing the effects of COVID-19 on the commercial airline market, Holmes announced the withdrawal of fiscal year 2020 guidance. He described steps the company was taking to align costs with decreasing demand, including a hiring freeze, reductions in executive compensation, furloughs, and workforce reductions. Holmes noted that he had been in direct contact with members of Congress and the administration regarding potential support for the broader aviation industry, emphasizing the need to preserve heavy maintenance capability and the skilled workforce in the United States. In a September 2019 podcast, Holmes discussed AAR's workforce development initiatives, including a partnership with Chicago city colleges to launch an aviation-focused transportation campus. He described AAR as the largest supplier of used airframe and engine parts globally and said the company had shifted from a subcontractor to a prime contractor on U.S. government contracts, applying commercial best practices to government offerings. Holmes stated that the company was positioning itself to support both existing fleets and next-generation aircraft as they mature, and that consolidation in the industry could create aftermarket support opportunities for AAR.