Safran Aircraft Engines has inaugurated a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Querétaro, Mexico, dedicated to servicing CFM LEAP engines, marking a major expansion of its aftermarket support capabilities across the Americas.
The new maintenance shop represents an investment of approximately $140 million and strengthens Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas as a comprehensive regional MRO hub. The 50,000-square-metre site now includes two engine maintenance shops for CFM56 and LEAP engines, an advanced engine test cell and a repair facility.
By 2030, the Querétaro hub is expected to handle up to 350 LEAP engine shop visits annually, supporting the rapidly growing global fleet of next-generation narrowbody aircraft powered by the CFM LEAP engine. The expansion forms part of Safran Aircraft Engines’ broader investment programme of more than €1 billion aimed at enhancing its global MRO network. The company has recently opened additional maintenance facilities in India, Morocco and Belgium.
The site will also house one of the world’s most advanced test cells for CFM engines, with the capacity to perform up to 350 engine tests annually by 2030, with further expansion planned as demand increases.
At full operational capacity, the new LEAP engine maintenance facility will employ more than 450 people. Across its four facilities in Querétaro, Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas currently employs around 1,450 people, with workforce numbers projected to grow to nearly 2,000 by 2030. The company also plans to strengthen local workforce development through an onsite training centre that will provide training for more than 300 inspectors and technicians each year in partnership with regional educational institutions.
Stéphane Cueille, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, said the investment reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting airlines operating LEAP-powered fleets throughout the Americas.
“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,” Cueille said. “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 CFM LEAP engine family powers the majority of next-generation single-aisle aircraft, including the Airbus A320neo family and the Boeing 737 MAX. Around 10,000 LEAP engines are currently in service worldwide, with the fleet expected to double by 2030.
Safran has operated in Mexico for 35 years and now manages 21 facilities across the country, employing more than 16,000 people, making it the largest employer in Mexico’s aerospace industry. The new investment further reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to expanding maintenance capacity and supporting the growing demand for modern aircraft engine services.
