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 has started 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.
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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 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.
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.
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.