GE Aerospace is set to expand its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations in Tres Rios, Brazil, with a significant investment of approximately $82 million (BRL 430 million). This strategic initiative aims to enhance the company’s repair capabilities, specifically for CFM LEAP engines, in response to escalating demand. The completion of this expansion is scheduled for the fall of 2025.
Currently, GE services over 500 engines each year for Brazil’s three largest airlines. The operations include engine disassembly, reassembly, maintenance, inspections, and testing. The expansion will boost this capacity, allowing the facility to service over 800 engines annually.
The LEAP engines, produced by CFM International—a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines—are prominent in the aviation industry. The LEAP-1A variant is utilized by the Airbus 320neo series, while the LEAP-1B powers the Boeing 737 MAX series.
This expansion marks a significant development since GE Aerospace’s inception in April, following the division of its former conglomerate’s healthcare and energy businesses. The company has also initiated capital investment projects focused on enhancing its manufacturing supply chain both domestically and internationally, alongside plans to increase its engineering workforce.
The enhancement of the Tres Rios facility is projected to employ over 500 individuals. Luiz Froes, the regional executive director & vice president of Government Relations for Latin America, highlighted the operational improvements expected from this expansion: “With the Tres Rios plant expansion, we will be able to increase our MRO capabilities, primarily for LEAP engines,” said Froes. “This will be possible not only due to the increased room and staff to perform our activities, but thanks to the implementation of Flight Deck, our proprietary, lean operating model. We will be able to optimize the distribution of engine parts and pieces across our units in Brazil, helping us meet a growing demand from our clients around the world.”
This expansion not only underscores GE Aerospace’s commitment to advancing its global MRO capabilities but also illustrates its strategic efforts to respond to the increasing demands of the aviation sector.