Avianor has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art hangar at Montreal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX), designated as its A220 ‘Center of Excellence’. The 105,000 square foot hangar represents a CAD$70 million investment in infrastructure, digitisation, equipment and technology, and adds four heavy maintenance lines dedicated to the Airbus A220 aircraft, with the capacity to support other narrow-body aircraft types.
With this expansion, Avianor now operates up to seven maintenance lines, increasing its capacity for specialised services such as new aircraft entry into service. The new facility has also resulted in the creation of more than 100 highly specialised jobs.
Avianor is an affiliate company of Drakkar, which has nearly 30 years of experience in the commercial and defence aircraft maintenance and interior sectors. The companies first announced the hangar project at Paris Air Show in June 2023, and they broke ground on the site in autumn (fall) of the same year. The construction has been completed within one year.
The hangar has been designed with aircraft maintenance efficiency and precision in mind. Key features include SafeSpill’s fire protection technology; energy-efficient LED lighting for well-illuminated workspaces; heat pumps for environmentally friendly climate control; ‘mega doors’ to facilitate aircraft entry and exit; and an access shaft. The hangar also includes a dedicated paint shop and sandblasting room for exterior and interior refinishing.
“The A220 Center of Excellence represents a decisive and transformative step for Avianor, our partners, and the broader aerospace community,” said Hugo Brouillard, COO & president of affiliates of Drakkar, including Avianor.