Safran inaugurates Casablanca’s Leap MRO facility: French aviation manufacturer Safran inaugurated its Leap engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) shop in Morocco at an investment cost of roughly EUR 120 mn (c. MAD 1.3 bn), according to a press release. The facility — located in the Casablanca airport zone — spans 25k sqm and will handle 150 engines per year. It is expected to launch in 2027.

IN CONTEXT- The Leap engine — meaning Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion — powers two of the highest in-demand aircraft in the narrow-body sector — the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A320neo groups. The facility aims to satisfy demand for Leap engines designed by CFM International, a JV comprising Safran Aircraft Engines and GE. Over 750 of CFM Leap engines are used by more than 20 airlines in the Middle East, Turkey, and a number of countries in the Eurasia region.

There’s more: Safran will establish an assembly line in Casablanca focused on Leap-1A engines dedicated to Airbus jets at an investment cost of EUR 200 mn, the press release said. The 13k sqm facility will accommodate a scheduled ramp-up in Safran’s production, with a capacity to handle 350 engines annually. It is also expected to launch by the end of 2027.

Safran in the region: Safran, GE, and aerospace engineering and leasing solutions firm Sanad agreed to expand Sanad’s existing maintenance agreement to deliver full MRO capabilities for Leap-1A and Leap-1B engines at its Abu Dhabi facilities earlier this year.

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