Safran Aircraft Engines has inaugurated its new engine maintenance shop in Querétaro dedicated to CFM LEAP engines. This $140 million investment strengthens Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas’ position as a comprehensive MRO hub in the region, covering 50,000 square meters and including two MRO shops for CFM56 and LEAP engines, a test cell, and a repair facility.
By 2030, the two maintenance facilities will be able to handle up to 350 LEAP engine shop visits annually. As part of an investment plan of more than €1 billion, and with the recent opening of new shops in India, Morocco, and Belgium, Safran Aircraft Engines is accelerating the development of its global MRO network to support the growing fleet of LEAP engines.
Additionally, Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas will be equipped with one of the world’s most advanced engine test cells for CFM engines, with a capacity of 350 engine tests per year by 2030 and further growth anticipated in the coming years. At full capacity, the new shop will employ more than 450 people. Across all four facilities, Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas has a total headcount of 1,450 people, with projections to reach close to 2,000 employees by 2030, further supporting local job creation and skills development. Through an onsite training center, more than 300 inspectors and technicians will be trained each year in partnership with local educational institutions.
“As we inaugurate this new facility, we are strengthening our Querétaro hub’s role at the heart of Safran Aircraft Engines’ maintenance ecosystem in the Americas,” said Stéphane Cueille, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines. “With continued investment in Mexico and around the world we will address the growing global demand for LEAP engine maintenance while continuing to deliver world class support to our customers in the region”.
The LEAP engine family powers most next generation narrowbody airliners, such as the Airbus A320neo family and the Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. There are about 10 000 LEAP engines already in service, and the fleet is expected to double by 2030. Safran has been present in Mexico for 35 years, now operating 21 facilities and employing more than 16,000 people in the country. The Group is currently the leading employer in Mexico’s aerospace industry.
