LATAM Airlines Group and RB Capital have signed an agreement to build a state-of-the-art hangar to house the airline group’s line maintenance centre at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport.
The investment of US$40 million has been agreed based on a ‘build to suit’ model, whereby the project is delivered according to specifications determined by LATAM and backed by a 14-year lease.
Libercon Engenharia will be responsible for the building works.
The new maintenance hangar is part of a series of LATAM’s measures to consolidate its operations at Guarulhos, its largest international hub.
“The construction of the hangar will mark a milestone in our efforts to develop a structure that enables even greater efficiency in our operations, while upholding the highest safety standards, a non-negotiable value for the company,” said Sergio Novato, senior director of maintenance, LATAM Airlines Brazil.
With the new facilities, more than 600 employees will work round-the-clock over three shifts to perform the routine ‘line’ aircraft maintenance that takes place between each flight.
Measuring 65,000m2, the new hangar at Guarulhos will be capable of simultaneously servicing seven wide-body aircraft (such as Boeing 777, 767 and 787s and the Airbus A350) or up to 19 Airbus A320 family narrow-body aircraft.
The Guarulhos Line Maintenance Center will also deliver several other benefits to LATAM.
For example, efficiencies will be achieved by having the workshops, aeronautical components, supply logistics and the items that need to be serviced all in one place.
“We will also improve several other processes, such as performing engine tests, which currently have time restrictions.
“The new hangar will have sound-proofing that will make it possible to carry out these tests at any time of the day or night, without causing noise disturbance,” added Novato.
In addition, the new hangar will be built using a sustainable framework aimed at reducing the consumption of resources such as water and electricity.