Vallair is to be awarded a ten-year lease for a full-service aircraft MRO and cargo conversion hangar adjacent to its existing aerostructures repair and logistics facility in Châteauroux, France.

The company has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with The Centre-Val de Loire Region and The Châteauroux Centre Airport Establishment to that effect.

The facility will have a footprint of 8,500sq m and be able to accommodate four A321 size aircraft, or a combination of A330s and A321s.

Vallair will make a forecasted €5 million investment in the coming months, with the facility expected to be completed by summer 2021.

“This is an important step for Vallair as we establish our blueprint for growth,” said Vallair’s CEO Gregoire Lebigot. “This new facility will be a natural extension of Vallair’s existing operations in Montpellier and Châteauroux providing maintenance, lease transfers, modifications, reconfigurations, aircraft parking and storage as well as repairs of aerostructure and composite elements.

“In addition to this we will be establishing our own dedicated conversion unit which will showcase Vallair’s experience and knowledge of passenger-to-freighter conversions. Our aim is to support our customers through these challenging times and to be prepared for the surge in demand expected from the fourth quarter. Vallair currently has seven aircraft scheduled for such work in Châteauroux, with another five expected over the coming weeks. This will be our initial orderbook.”