Ryanair has inaugurated a new €40 million aircraft maintenance facility at Porto Airport, tripling its maintenance capacity at the Portuguese hub and creating more than 150 skilled jobs.
The 4,900 sqm development comprises a two-bay line maintenance hangar and component workshops, complementing the airline’s existing single-bay facility. The expansion increases Ryanair’s maintenance capacity at Porto from one to three aircraft bays, strengthening its ability to support the airline’s growing operations in Portugal.
Officially opened on November 10, the facility will create employment opportunities for engineers, aircraft mechanics and apprentices across Portugal’s Norte Region, while providing specialist training and long-term career development opportunities.
The investment forms part of Ryanair’s wider strategy to expand its in-house engineering capabilities as it targets a fleet of more than 800 aircraft and 300 million annual passengers by 2034.
To support recruitment and skills development, Ryanair has established partnerships with more than 10 Portuguese universities, polytechnics, vocational schools and Part-147 training organisations, creating a pipeline of locally trained aviation maintenance professionals.
The airline has also been expanding its engineering training activities in Portugal, welcoming 38 engineering interns during 2026, many of whom have been based in Porto.
Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson said: “This investment is about much more than expanding hangar capacity. Ryanair is creating an employment market that will drive economic growth across the Norte Region for years to come.”
The opening follows Ryanair’s recent expansion of its Porto operation, with two additional aircraft bringing its locally based fleet to 14 for winter 2026. The airline is operating 55 routes from the airport, with winter seat capacity increasing 13% to 2.7 million, underlining the growing requirement for local maintenance support.
The new facility also reinforces Ryanair’s established presence in Portugal, where it operates 30 based aircraft across Porto, Faro, Lisbon and Madeira, representing an investment of approximately $3 billion. The airline carries more than 14 million passengers annually to and from Portugal and estimates that its operations support over 12,000 jobs nationwide.
Beyond its aircraft and maintenance infrastructure, Ryanair operates Travel Labs technology centres in Porto and Lisbon, supporting more than 50 specialist technology positions.
The Porto development represents another investment in the airline’s engineering infrastructure as it expands its fleet and strengthens maintenance support across its European network.
