LATAM announces its largest investment in the past 10 years at its maintenance base, with nearly $7 million allocated for a new specialized Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, expected to begin operations in September 2025.
Construction of the new structure will start on November 15 at “LATAM MRO” (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul), the group’s maintenance and repair center located in São Carlos, in the interior of São Paulo.
The construction of the new hangar will allow LATAM group to bring more services in-house at its São Carlos facility, reducing costs and improving aircraft availability for flight operations. Currently, heavy maintenance of LATAM group’s Boeing 787s is conducted in Chile (a capacity that will be maintained) and through the group’s international network of external providers.
“LATAM reaffirms its commitment to operational efficiency and regional development with this investment in the maintenance center in São Carlos. The project, in addition to enhancing the group’s services, will contribute to strengthening the region as an aviation hub,” says Enrique Parada, Engineering and Maintenance Director for LATAM group.
LATAM Airlines Brazil’s new hangar in São Carlos will also be equipped to paint large aircraft and conduct preventive maintenance on up to three Airbus A320 family aircraft simultaneously. A dedicated structure will be implemented to isolate painting activities, preventing contamination and ensuring quality. Additionally, advanced technologies such as drone inspections and autonomous logistics carts already in use at the São Paulo unit, will be incorporated.
The LATAM MRO’s hangar project will also create 300 new jobs in São Carlos, including positions for assistants, storekeepers, aeronautical mechanics, planners and engineers.
BOEING 787 DREAMLINER
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with a capacity for up to 300 passengers in LATAM’s configuration, is the most modern wide-body aircraft model (twin-aisle, primarily used for long-haul international flights) in LATAM’s fleet. LATAM currently operates 37 of these aircraft and plans to have a total of 52 by 2030. On Monday, October 28, LATAM announced the additional purchase of 10 new Boeing 787s to further its commitment to operating one of the most modern and efficient fleets in Latin America.
LATAM MRO IN SÃO CARLOS (BRAZIL)
LATAM MRO, located in São Carlos (SP), is recognized as the largest aircraft maintenance center in the region and a global reference in the field. With a team of 2,000 employees, the MRO is responsible for over 60% of all scheduled maintenance for LATAM group aircraft.
“This project represents a direct impact on the creation of new job opportunities in the region and on its development. With this investment, LATAM Airlines Brazil is here to complement what we are already offering as a maintenance center and expand it,” highlighted Alexandre Peronti, Maintenance Director of LATAM Airlines Brazil.
Covering 95,000 square meters, this center has 22 workshops in São Carlos, all equipped with state-of-the-art technology and highly qualified professionals. LATAM MRO is capable of performing the most complex aircraft maintenance tasks, following technical instructions from manufacturers and being certified by aviation authorities. The quality and technical expertise of LATAM MRO are backed by international certifications, including EASA, FAA, and DGAC Chile.
Embracing the latest in aircraft maintenance technology, since 2019 the São Carlos MRO has used drones for aircraft inspection, being the first in Latin America, being the first in Latin America to adopt this practice. This innovative method has made the inspection process 12 times more efficient than traditional inspections, capturing between 1,600 and 2,000 detailed images of the aircraft fuselage and using artificial intelligence to identify potential damage. Additionally, the use of drones has eliminated the need for paper prints, keeping cloud-based records updated in real time.
With the internationalization of São Carlos airport, LATAM MRO expanded its operations, investing in facility expansions and acquiring new equipment, which created approximately 450 new jobs to service even more aircraft from all group subsidiaries.
ABOUT LATAM GROUP
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its subsidiaries are the leading airline group in Latin America, with presence in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations within Latin America and to Europe, Oceania, Africa, the United States and the Caribbean.
The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A321neo A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft. LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the LATAM group’s cargo subsidiaries,In addition to having access to the bellies of the passenger affiliates’ aircraft, they have a fleet of 21 freighters. These cargo subsidiaries have access to the group’s passenger aircraft, and operate within the LATAM group network, as well as on exclusive international routes for cargo transportation. In addition, they offer a modern infrastructure and a wide variety of services and support options to meet the needs of its customers.
Featured image credited to LATAM