Market Trends
MRO market expands in Latin America
According to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF), Airbus fleet will grow over the next 20 years in Latin America, and the whole market will represent more than 2,500 aircraft. Consequently, the need for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services will increase accordingly. MRO providers play an essential role in supporting and sustaining Airbus Latin America’s airline fleets and can be found in more than eight countries across the whole region.
With the emerging Low Cost Carriers in the region, maintenance is outsourced more and more to independent or airline third party providers. As a result, MRO providers are expanding their activities in Brazil, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Puerto Rico with the aim to have a stronger proximity to the airlines and target their whole fleet of aircraft. From single-aisle to long-range aircraft, MROs ensure safety and airworthiness by offering three main capabilities:
- “Airframe maintenance,” including aircraft maintenance checks, winglet installations, landing gear, thrust reversers, corrosion prevention and control programs, aircraft painting, fuel and tank maintenance.
- “Engine” including performance restoration, engine modification, inspections, repairs and overhaul.
- “Aircraft component maintenance services” including comprehensive avionics and instrument overhaul.
Airbus is seeing continued investments in the airframe MRO market, especially with modifications such as aircraft interiors, which is the fastest growing MRO segment in Latin America. And with the arrival of the A350 XWB and A320neo in the region, MROs are investing and can be expected to continue investing in new technology to support new generation aircraft.
Priscilla Panel
Business Operations
priscilla.p.panel@airbus.com