VIEW FROM THE TOP
MRO EYES HANGAR EXPANSION, WIDE BODIES FOR GROWTH MARCOS ROSALES Director General and CEO of Mexicana MRO Services
Q: What are Mexicana MRO’s growth projections and
two years of seniority to work on an aircraft. In 2016,
expansion plans for 2017?
we reinforced our classroom training capacities and
A: Our main hangar will be expanded in the second half
increased our staff numbers, reiterating that on-the-job
of 2017 to add more production lines, with the capability
training for Mexicana MRO technicians should be at least
to serve narrow and wide-body planes. We feel secure
18 months.
in our growth, to the point where we have expanded our three traditional service lines of major maintenance,
UNAQ has also been working to improve its course
line maintenance and components. The company plans
content through an agreement with Mexicana MRO.
to begin managing structural conversions as part of our
Often, the university sends technicians to gain experience
2017-18 business plan.
at our hangar and to certify them. Our focus for 2017 is to train 250-300 new technicians to service the business
Mexicana MRO will likely close 2017 with 9.5 production
that we foresee for 2018.
lines, up from an average of 6.7 in 2016. Our growth is partly a reflection of three new clients that joined our
Q: Being an MRO located in North America, how alluring
portfolio. We also began to target the European market,
is the US market?
for which we hold the EASA certification.
A: We have two lessors in the US market but with competition so high, we will hold back from entering
Becoming the first MRO to join ALTA also helped raise
that market further. Despite increased traffic from the
our profile among new clients. The association invited us
US, most growth is happening in Latin America. Entering
to be speakers at its event in May 2017 in Cancun. These
the Latin American market is easier because it is covered
networking opportunities increase our visibility, which
by the same certifications. Leading global consultancy
supports our ongoing growth.
ICF has reported a trend of impressive growth in this market in the last two years and we are targeting it more
Q: What is Mexicana MRO doing to sustain the growth
directly. The company is also looking to Europe because
it is enjoying?
many wide-body planes arrive to Mexico from there. For
A: Growth implies more production and more training
the moment, we see more potential in the wide-body
because of the additional technicians required to handle
market, and European carriers could represent between
the increase in clients. We secured new certifications
10 and 15 percent of our business portfolio.
in 2017, for a total of 19, which should be enough for the time-being, unless we sign a new client that
Latin America represents 90-95 percent of our operations,
merits additional certifications. Some of our previous
of which 25 percent is in Mexico. Diversification could
certifications that were limited to painting have been
help us achieve sustainable growth. We work with several
expanded to incorporate maintenance and now cover
Mexican carriers and have eight operators throughout
Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama.
Latin America that are regular clients. Mexicana MRO is becoming a reference point for Latin America and we are
In terms of training, we have relationships with several
close to becoming the top company in our sector.
schools but continue to train technicians onsite because we feel that graduates are arriving at our workshops without all the requisite qualifications. Many lack
Mexicana MRO Services provides maintenance for several
technique and practical experience because only a few
Airbus and Boeing aircraft. It offers clients an integrated
schools have access to several aircraft models. Our
maintenance service, within a total area of 1’730,139ft2.
standards stipulate that technicians should ideally have
Mexicana MRO was the first MRO to join ALTA
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