As part of a three-day state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Rabat, Morocco, Safran Aircraft Engines and the Moroccan government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the creation of a new LEAP engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) shop, slated to come on stream by 2026.

The signing ceremony, which took place on 28 October 2024, was attended by his Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco and French President Emmanuel Macron. The agreement was signed  by Mr. Ryad Mezzour, Minister for Trade and Industry, Karim Zidane, Deputy Minister for Investment, Convergence, and Assessment of Public Policies, and Ross McInnes, Chairman of Safran’s Board.

The new 25,000 square meters shop, which will be built in the airport zone of Casablanca, is part of a massive investment plan to expand Safran’s global MRO network in order to support the growth in the number of LEAP engines in service[1]. The LEAP today powers more than 4,000 narrowbody aircraft, including most new-generation Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

“I would like to thank the Moroccan government for its active and effective support for our project to set up a new maintenance shop, which will strengthen Safran’s strategic presence in Morocco,” said Jean-Paul Alary, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aircraft Engines.

“The facility will set new standards in energy and industrial performance,” he added.

The site will lead to the creation of around 600 direct jobs 2030 and will benefit from strategic training partnerships to ensure the development of the skills required. Once complete, the new MRO shop will have the capacity to handle 150 engines per year, allowing it to meet fast-growing demand for LEAP shop visits, especially from airlines based in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Safran has been present in Morocco for 25 years and employs nearly 4,700 people in eight local companies and joint ventures. The Group leads Morocco’s aerospace sector and maintains close partnerships with local companies and the country’s government institutions and training providers.

Established in 1999, Safran Aircraft Engine Services Morocco (SAESM), a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Royal Air Maroc, was the first aerospace company to set up in Morocco, and has since become a major center of excellence for CFM56 engine maintenance. In April this year, Safran Aircraft Engines and Royal Air Maroc signed an MoU for the facility’s continued growth, enabling it to increase the number of shop visits from 70 to 100 a year by 2026.

Safran Aircraft Engines also announced an investment plan of more than €1 billion for the development of its global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) network to support the growing fleet of LEAP engines around the world.

This massive investment will expand Safran’s MRO capabilities, allowing it to support the anticipated ramp-up in demand for LEAP aftersales services in the coming years. The LEAP is the latest engine developed by CFM International, a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace. It entered service in 2016 and today powers nearly 4,000 narrowbody aircraft, including most new-generation Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX and COMAC C919 airliners.

These latest investments will enable Safran Aircraft Engines to handle 1,200 shop visits per year by 2028. This capital outlay will cover the construction of an additional 120,000 square meters of industrial facilities dedicated to LEAP repair and maintenance, including:

• A new site in Brussels, Belgium, which came on stream in early 2024.
• A new facility in Hyderabad, India, which will enter service in 2025.
• A second MRO shop in Querétaro, Mexico, and a new test platform, both of which will begin operations in 2026. 
• A new facility in Casablanca, Morocco, slated to enter service in 2026.
• Expansion of the company’s Villaroche and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines facilities, in France, scheduled for 2025 and 2026, respectively.

The investment plan also encompasses the development of the company’s global engine part repairs network, including:

• A new turbine blade repair facility in Rennes, France.
• Expansion of its MRO shop in Querétaro, Mexico.
• Contemplated Acquisition of the American company Component Repair Technologies.