Royal Air Maroc and Safran Strengthen Partnership in Engine Maintenance

To mark 25 years since its inception, Safran Aircraft Engines Services Morocco (SAESM), a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Royal Air Maroc, has inaugurated 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.