Safran Querétaro LEAP engine MRO hub (Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas, SAESA) and Safran's wider Querétaro site

Querétaro, in central Mexico, is Safran's largest industrial base in the country. In Mexico as a whole Safran has 21 sites and more than 16,000 staff, making it the country's largest aerospace employer. In Querétaro alone it employs more than 4,000 people across engines, landing gear and composites.

Engine maintenance began with Snecma America Engine Services (now SAESA). In May 2012 it opened a 162,000 sq ft facility in Querétaro for CFM56-5A/-5B engines (Airbus A320 family), with CFM56-7B (Boeing 737NG) work planned. In February 2015 a CFM56 parts repair plant (then SAMES Rep, now SAESA Rep) began work. It repairs high-pressure turbine shrouds and supports and low-pressure turbine nozzles, holds FAA, EASA and CAAC approvals, and takes part in LEAP repair development. At its 2016 opening Safran announced a third Safran/Albany composites plant in Querétaro, to make 3D-woven LEAP fan blades from late 2017. Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico makes CFM56 parts, and Safran Landing Systems has overhauled landing gear in Querétaro since 2010.

The LEAP engine is made by CFM International, a 50/50 company of Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace. It powers the Airbus A320neo family and the Boeing 737 MAX. Safran says about 10,000 are in service and the fleet will double by 2030. To support it, Safran launched a plan of more than €1 billion (October 2024) for 1,200 shop visits a year by 2028, with new sites in Belgium, India, Morocco and Mexico. At Farnborough in July 2024 Safran and Querétaro's governor announced the second Querétaro shop: US$80 million, 14,000 m², 150 extra engines a year and nearly 500 jobs. They also announced an extension of Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico to build LEAP fan and turbine modules, with final assembly lines (150 jobs). In December 2024 Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico opened an expansion (MXN 720 million, about US$35 million, 128 jobs) for final assembly of LEAP-1A engines for the Airbus A320neo family. It is the first such capability in Mexico, with 100 engines planned by 2027. The same month, the SAESA shop celebrated its 1,000th engine delivered, and SAESA restated its target of 350 engines a year from 2030. In December 2025 Safran laid the first stone for an expansion of its Safran Aero Composite plant (SAC P3), which makes LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B components.

The second shop was inaugurated on 30 June 2026 by Safran CEO Olivier Andriès and Governor Mauricio Kuri. The hub now has four facilities on 50,000 m²: a CFM56/LEAP shop, a LEAP shop, a new LEAP test cell and SAESA Rep. Total investment is quoted at US$140 million. The new shop will employ more than 450 people at full capacity. SAESA's 1,450 staff should reach about 2,000 by 2030, and its training centre will train more than 300 inspectors and technicians a year. A separate November 2025 plan of over MXN 2.06 billion (about US$120 million) covers two more engine test benches and long-range landing gear lines.

Setbacks: none reported. A search on 9 Nov 2026 found no new Querétaro announcements for 1 Oct–9 Nov 2026.

Milestone path

1. 30 May 2012

   CFM56 engine shop opens

   Achieved

   Snecma America Engine Services (now SAESA) opened a 162,000 sq ft facility in Querétaro for CFM56-5A/-5B engines used on the A320 family.

   Why it matters: It founded the engine MRO hub that LEAP work now builds on.

2. Feb 2016 (opening event; repairs since Feb 2015)

   Parts repair plant opens

   Achieved

   The SAMES Rep plant (now SAESA Rep) opened for CFM56 turbine parts repairs, and a Safran/Albany LEAP fan blade plant was announced.

   Why it matters: Repair approvals from FAA, EASA and CAAC give the site a worldwide customer base.

3. 22 Jul 2024 (Farnborough)

   Second LEAP shop announced

   Achieved

   Safran and Querétaro's governor announced a US$80m second shop (14,000 m², 150 extra engines a year, nearly 500 jobs), plus LEAP module and assembly work at Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico.

   Why it matters: It made Querétaro a main LEAP MRO site for the Americas.

4. 29 Oct 2024

   Over €1bn global LEAP MRO plan

   Latest

   Safran announced a plan of more than €1 billion to reach 1,200 LEAP shop visits a year by 2028, with new sites in Belgium, India, Morocco and Mexico.

   Why it matters: Querétaro is one of four new network sites competing for a growing LEAP fleet.

Milestone path

1. 1 Dec 2024

   LEAP-1A final assembly expansion opens

   Achieved

   Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico opened an expansion (MXN 720m, about US$35m, 128 jobs) for final assembly of LEAP-1A engines, the first in Mexico.

   Why it matters: Querétaro now builds as well as repairs LEAP engines.

2. 19 Dec 2024

   1,000th engine delivered

   Achieved

   The SAESA shop celebrated its 1,000th engine delivered and restated a target of 350 engines a year from 2030.

   Why it matters: It shows a proven throughput record ahead of the LEAP ramp-up.

3. 11 Mar 2025

   Second shop 60% built

   Achieved

   Construction of the second engine MRO shop was reported 60% complete, with operations due in 2026.

   Why it matters: Building stayed on schedule for a 2026 opening.

4. 11 Nov 2025

   MXN 2bn further expansion plan

   Latest

   Safran announced more than MXN 2.06 billion (about US$120m) for two more engine test benches and long-range landing gear lines.

   Why it matters: Extra test cells raise capacity; landing gear lines cover A330, A330neo and 787.

Milestone path

1. Dec 2025

   Composites plant expansion started

   Achieved

   Safran laid the first stone for an expansion of its Safran Aero Composite plant (SAC P3), which makes LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B components.

   Why it matters: More local LEAP parts output strengthens the Querétaro supply base.

2. 30 Jun 2026

   Second LEAP shop inaugurated

   Latest

   Safran CEO Olivier Andriès and Governor Mauricio Kuri opened the second LEAP shop. The hub now has four facilities on 50,000 m², and total investment is quoted at US$140m.

   Why it matters: It is Safran's main LEAP MRO capacity in the Americas. Airline customers have not been published.

3. By 2027

   100 LEAP-1A engines assembled

   Planned

   Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico plans to have assembled 100 LEAP-1A engines by 2027.

   What to watch: actual LEAP-1A output against the 100-engine plan.

4. By 2030

   350 LEAP shop visits a year

   Planned

   The two shops aim for up to 350 LEAP shop visits and 350 engine tests a year. SAESA staff should reach about 2,000.

   What to watch: named airline contracts and the 300+ technicians a year from the training centre.