Iberia Maintenance is to further develop its base maintenance presence at Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

The MRO company said it would build on its current C check capabilities with investment in back shops to become a full heavy maintenance facility, “allowing for growth in its capabilities as a heavy maintenance provider”.

Iberia Maintenance will offer the heavy MRO services to both IAG Group clients – starting with Vueling – and third-party customers.

A team of 300 professionals in Barcelona will service initially Airbus A320 family aircraft, with a capacity of more than 300,000 man-hours per year for this type of overhaul.

The development is part of a wider Iberia commitment to reinforce its presence at El Prat, consolidating the Barcelona airport as a major aeronautical hub.

Iberia Maintenance said it would continue to provide line maintenance services in Barcelona for Iberia’s short- and medium-haul fleet, as well as for third party customers’ long-haul aircraft.