Safran Aircraft Engines has officially opened a new engine maintenance facility in Querétaro, Mexico, marking a significant expansion of its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations in the Americas. The $140 million investment establishes a dedicated hub for CFM LEAP engines, which power a large portion of modern narrowbody airliners, including the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families.
The new site covers 50,000 square meters and includes two distinct maintenance shops for CFM56 and LEAP engines, a repair facility, and a test cell. By 2030, the two maintenance facilities are projected to handle up to 350 LEAP engine shop visits annually. The complex will also feature one of the world’s most advanced engine test cells for CFM engines, with a capacity of 350 tests per year by 2030, with further growth expected in subsequent years.
At full operational capacity, the new shop will employ more than 450 people. Across all four of its Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas facilities, the company currently has a total workforce of 1,450 employees. Projections indicate this number will rise to nearly 2,000 by 2030. To support local workforce development, the company operates an onsite training center that will train more than 300 inspectors and technicians annually in partnership with local educational institutions.
Stéphane Cueille, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, stated that the inauguration strengthens the Querétaro hub’s role within the company’s maintenance ecosystem in the Americas. He noted that continued investment in Mexico and other global locations, including recent openings in India, Morocco, and Belgium, is part of a broader plan to address the growing demand for LEAP engine maintenance.
The LEAP engine family is critical to the current aviation market, with approximately 10,000 engines already in service and the fleet expected to double by 2030. Safran has maintained a presence in Mexico for 35 years and now operates 21 facilities in the country, employing more than 16,000 people. The company describes itself as the leading employer in Mexico’s aerospace industry.
Safran is an international high-technology group with a global presence of more than 110,000 employees. In 2025, the company reported revenue of 31.3 billion euros. CFM International, the entity behind the LEAP engines, is a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace.
