Safran and Royal Air Maroc strengthen engine MRO partnership
Safran Aircraft Engines Services Morocco (SAESM), a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Royal Air Maroc, has inaugurated the extension of its Nouaceur facility, located close to Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport.
It comes as SAESM marks 25 years since its inception, with the firm saying the project plays a part in the company bolstering its position as a centre of excellence for CFM56 engine maintenance.
The companies also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the unit’s continued growth, including 21,500 sqft of added capacity, enabling it to increase the number of shop visits from 70 to 100 a year by 2026.
Hamid Addou, chairman of the board and chief executive of Royal Air Maroc, said: “Today marks the beginning of a new phase in our partnership with Safran. This agreement will not only help us grow our Casablanca facility but also boost our expertise in the aeronautical industry.
“Royal Air Maroc is proud to work with Safran to develop Morocco’s aviation sector and enhance our country’s position in the global aerospace industry.”
To support this development, SAESM says it also plans to hire approximately 100 people up to 2026, bringing the facility’s total staff to 350. It will also rely on key local academic partnerships, supported by Royal Air Maroc and Safran Aircraft Engines, to develop MRO expertise in Morocco.
Jean-Paul Alary, chief executive of Safran Aircraft Engines, said: “We’re delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Royal Air Maroc and harnessing this ecosystem of high-level skills in Morocco, in line with our strong industrial focus on the CFM56.
“Since it was created 25 years ago, SAESM has become a reference in our global MRO network in terms of operational excellence, innovation and reduction of its carbon footprint.”
Developed by Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace through their CFM International joint venture, the CFM56 powers most of today’s Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 airliners, with over 33,000 engines delivered.
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