Brussels Airport and Safran break ground on engine MRO facility expansion
Brussels Airport and Safran have broken ground on a major expansion of the Safran Aircraft Engine Services Brussels (SAESB) facility, adding more than 15,000 sqm of new space dedicated to aircraft engine module maintenance.
The new facility, known as the ‘Module Factory’, will support growing global demand for maintenance services and strengthen Safran’s European MRO network as the worldwide fleet of CFM LEAP engines continues to expand.
The extension will complement the existing SAESB workshop, which opened in 2024 and specialises in LEAP engine maintenance. The project will add a workshop of almost 12,000 sqm alongside more than 3,000 sqm of office space.
Once fully operational, the site is expected to be capable of overhauling up to 1,500 engine modules annually by 2028.
The expansion is also set to create around 250 additional jobs, increasing the workforce at the facility to more than 600 employees by 2027.
The new workshop will focus on the maintenance of individual engine modules rather than complete engines. Some modules contain several thousand parts, requiring highly specialised maintenance procedures. Safran said the dedicated facility will help streamline operations, improve efficiency and further specialise activities at the Brussels site.
Arnaud Feist, chief executive of Brussels Airport, said: “The development of this extension on our site illustrates the confidence that a leading global industrial player like Safran Aircraft Engines places in Brussels Airport. This project not only reinforces our long-standing partnership but also confirms the airport’s role as a major economic and industrial hub in Belgium, supporting high value-added activities and job creation.”
Safran said its decision to further expand in Brussels was supported by its long-standing presence at the airport and the expertise developed locally over many years. The company also aims to consolidate activities at a single location rather than across multiple smaller facilities, taking advantage of the airport’s established MRO infrastructure.
Nicolas Potier, senior vice president support & services at Safran Aircraft Engines, said: “The ground breaking for this ‘Module Factory’ marks an important new milestone in the development of our global maintenance network, supporting the rapid growth of the LEAP engine fleet.
“This extension strengthens our deeply rooted presence within the Brussels Airport ecosystem and increases our MRO capacity in Europe, bringing us even closer to our customers’ operations and needs in the region.”
The new building has been designed with sustainability in mind. Safran said the facility will achieve energy performance levels where consumption is offset by on-site energy production. The site will also feature rainwater harvesting systems, increased use of natural light in operational areas and the reuse of existing materials and infrastructure as part of a circular economy approach.