Monarch Aircraft Engineering Announces New Facility at Birmingham Airport

MONARCH Aircraft Engineering (MAEL), the award-winning independent aircraft maintenance provider, has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art facility at Birmingham Airport, creating up to 300 jobs for the region.

The new 110,000 sq. ft maintenance facility is due to be complete and operational by the end of 2013. MAEL’s expansion at Birmingham Airport will create 150 jobs, with the potential for a further 150.

It is the first UK hangar to have the capacity for Boeing 787 Dreamliner maintenance and will also have sufficient capacity for other wide body aircraft, such as the Boeing 777, 747 and Airbus A350.

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the Airport for Monarch Group’s UK engineering expansion, following the growth of its flight operation in Birmingham this year.

“The decision to create this state-of-the-art facility in the West Midlands demonstrates Monarch’s long-term commitment to the region, creating job opportunities for skilled engineers and young people looking to start a career in aircraft maintenance.” 

As a division of The Monarch Group, the leading UK-based travel group, MAEL also provides high-quality aircraft maintenance and engineering services to Monarch Airlines’ fleet, contributing significantly to the scheduled leisure airline’s efficiency and reliability.

Commenting on the new MRO facility at Birmingham Airport, Mick Adams, Managing Director of MAEL, said: “Our new state-of-the-art hangar at Birmingham Airport combined with our existing facilities at London Luton and Manchester, and large line maintenance operation at London Gatwick, will ensure that MAEL is uniquely positioned to provide its international and domestic customers with a high-quality and leading maintenance and repair service in key, strategically-important MRO locations across the UK.

“MAEL’s leading MRO business is underpinned by the expertise of our people and our apprenticeship scheme is renowned within the industry for developing high-calibre aircraft engineers. We look forward next year to welcoming 150 talented people, with the potential for a further 150, to our new facility at Birmingham Airport, where they will complement our expertise across existing locations and join in our exciting plans for further growth.”

Caroline Spelman, Member of Parliament for Meriden, which includes Birmingham Airport, said: “I am delighted to hear about the engineering facility Monarch are investing in at Birmingham Airport. The creation of 300 jobs through this facility and the opportunities for apprentices is a vote of confidence in the airport and the great heritage in engineering our area has.”