Strengthening its aircraft maintenance area, a traditionally strong sector in Rio de Janeiro, RIOgaleão airport and United Airlines, the third largest airline in the world, celebrate the inauguration of the company's first aircraft maintenance hangar outside the United States.
The space, valued at R$ 500 million, will have the largest free span in Brazil in a total area of over 60 m², including a hangar with over 20 m² of built area and an auxiliary building with over 12 m². m². This new United Airlines operation and the jobs created reinforce RIOgaleão's role as the engine of Rio de Janeiro's economy.
The new United Airlines hangar has the capacity to simultaneously receive six domestic aircraft (narrow body) and four international (wide-body). However, the main model of aircraft that will be received are the company's own Boeing 767-300. United Airlines flies to nearly 300 destinations and has more than 92 employees worldwide.
“The installation of the maintenance center along the current lines of United Airlines reinforces the airline industry’s production chain, stimulating the installation of other market players in the area and creating a virtuous cycle of investments, employment and income”, comments Alexandre Monteiro, President of RIOgaleão.
To complete the maintenance hub with the development of this industry at the airport, RIOgaleão has just signed a contract with the Chinese Drayton Aerospace. The company will operate in a 7 m² building at Tom Jobim International Airport to offer maintenance and manufacturing services for landing gear. In addition, RIOgaleão already has a 13 m² maintenance center from GE Celma, the largest turbine maintenance company in the world, which last year cleared 387 engines at the RIOgaleão Cargo Terminal, making the company's operation in Rio de Janeiro a reference for GE Global.
Skilled labors
The region of Rio de Janeiro is internationally recognized for its skilled workforce in the aircraft maintenance sector. In 1978, in the hangar where today United Airlines is located, the maintenance center for VEM (Varig, Engenharia e Maintenance) operated. In 2005, the Portuguese TAP took over from the Brazilian airline, managing the space until 2022, the same year that United closed the contract with the airport and began the adaptation works.
“The beginning of the operation is the conclusion of a work carried out over a few years to bring an important player to the city, which qualifies Rio and employs specialized labor to effectively contribute to the growth of the state”, adds Leandro Dantas, Commercial Director of RIOgaleão.
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Street: RIOgaleão
