Safran and Brussels Airport Company sign agreement for extension of Safran Aircraft Engine Services Brussels

Safran Aircraft Engines and Brussels Airport Company (BAC) today signed an agreement related to the construction of a new building at the Safran Aircraft Engine Services Brussels (SAESB) maintenance shop in the Brussels airport zone.

The new facility spanning more than 11,000 square meters (≈ 118,000 sq.ft) will be dedicated to the maintenance of engine modules. It will be part of the new MRO shop inaugurated last June for CFM International’s LEAP engines MRO activities. Dubbed the “Module Factory”, this new shop is scheduled to be up and running by mid-2027. Some 220 new jobs will be created in the process, taking the site’s total workforce to 570.

The SAESB extension is part of an expansion of Safran Aircraft Engines’ global MRO ecosystem in order to support the ramp-up of LEAP engine services. The “Module Factory” will handle engine modules transferred from other shops in the Safran Aircraft Engines network, with the aim of performing up to 1,200 shop visits a year by 2028.

Commenting, Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company, said: “We’re thrilled to mark this new milestone in our longstanding partnership with Safran at Brussels Airport. Just a few months after the opening of the shop, Safran renewed its trust with this extension. The investment is a further illustration of our ability to provide world-class infrastructure and services for our partners. The new facility reflects our commitment to meet the growing needs of industry through state-of-the-art, high-performance and sustainable installations, while driving both local and international economic growth. We’re proud to contribute to this strategic development of the entire airport community.”

The “Module Factory” will feature advanced automation technology and ergonomically designed equipment to provide an optimally safe and efficient workplace, along with predictive maintenance capabilities and 4.0 technologies for maximum operational reliability.

“We’re delighted to strengthen our partnership with Brussels Airport Company,” said Nicolas Potier, Vice President Support and Services at Safran Aircraft Engines. “This extension will enable us to boost the capabilities of our global MRO ecosystem amid a huge ramp-up of demand. As well as low-carbon infrastructure, the facility will offer top-notch industrial performance to meet our customers’ needs, reinforcing SAESB’s position as one of our network’s most advanced, integrated MRO facilities.”

Safran Aircraft Engine Services Brussels was the first workshop in the world to be certified for maintenance of the LEAP-1A model, in 2016, and today boasts more than 75 years’ experience in MRO for aircraft engines. The new shop will also be designed to the best environmental standards and will be carbon-neutral thanks to its use of 100% renewable energy, with solar panels on the roof, and circular heating systems.