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Royal Air Maroc and Safran strengthen their partnership in aircraft engine maintenance
Business
- Extended capacity for Casablanca-based Safran Aircraft Engine Services Morocco plant
- Industrial transformation project to bolster its position as a center of excellence for CFM56 engine maintenance
April 18, 2024, Casablanca (Morocco) – To mark 25 years since its inception, Safran Aircraft Engines Services Morocco (SAESM), a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Royal Air Maroc, inaugurated today the extension of its Nouaceur plant, close to Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport. The ceremony was attended by Mohammed ABDELJALIL, Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hamid ADDOU, Chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc, Jean-Paul ALARY, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines and Abdallah Chatter, governor of Nouaceur region.
The two partners also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the unit’s continued growth, including 2,000 square meters (21,500 sq. ft) of added capacity, enabling it to increase the number of shop visits from 70 to 100 a year by 2026. SAESM is strengthening its position as a center of excellence for the CFM56 engine family within Safran’s global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) network, offering airlines a complete range of services covering the entire MRO process, from diagnosis to performance guarantee at the test bench.
Developed by Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace through their CFM International joint venture, the CFM56 powers most Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 airliners today, with over 33,000 engines delivered.
“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,” said Hamid Addou, Chairman Of the Board and CEO of Royal Air Maroc.
To support this development, SAESM also plans to hire around 100 people up to 2026, bringing the plant’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, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, commented: “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.”
To help reduce the CO2 emissions of Safran’s sites, the Casablanca facility is investing in the installation of solar panels on building roof and parking lot shade structures, with the aim of achieving a renewable energy share of 30% by 2025.
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About Safran:
Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 92,000 employees and sales of €23.2 billion in 2023 and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran Aircraft Engines designs, produces and markets, alone or in partnership, commercial and military aircraft engines offering world-class performance and reliability. Through CFM International,* Safran Aircraft Engines is the world’s leading supplier of engines for single-aisle commercial jets.
*CFM International is a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace.
For further information: www.safran-group.com and www.safran-aircraft-engines.com / Follow us @Safran and @SafranEngines on X.
About Royal Air Maroc:
Morocco’s flag carrier Royal Air Maroc, present in Africa since its creation in 1957, is a leading airline in the continent. Royal Air Maroc has a young fleet of around 50 planes and connects Morocco’s main airports to more than 80 airports around the world.
In July 2023, Royal Air Maroc embarked on a journey toward a new dimension by signing a 2023–37 program contract with the government. The objective is to elevate Royal Air Maroc’s positioning from regional operator to global carrier, quadruple its current fleet to 200 aircraft and ensure the transportation of 32 million passengers per year by 2037.
By joining oneworld in 2020, Royal Air Maroc was the first African company to be part of this prestigious alliance. The partnership with oneworld, which includes the most beautiful world references in air transport, allows Morocco to connect with a network of more than 520 million travelers and 900 destinations in 170 countries.
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