Safran to Open Morocco Plant for A320 Gear Ramp-Up
Safran has announced plans to build a new landing gear manufacturing facility in Morocco to support the ongoing ramp-up of Airbus A320 family production, reinforcing its industrial footprint in North Africa.
The investment, valued at more than $332 million, was unveiled on February 13, 2026, by Safran Chairman Ross McInnes alongside King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The facility will be located near Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, positioning it within the country’s growing aerospace cluster.
According to Safran, the 26,000-square-meter site will focus on landing systems for short- and medium-haul aircraft, particularly the A320 program. The plant will manufacture landing gear components and modules, as well as associated hydraulic systems, forming part of the broader supply chain supporting Airbus’ production expansion.
Airbus is working toward higher monthly output rates for the A320 family as global demand for single-aisle aircraft remains strong. Safran said the new facility will deploy a modern, highly efficient manufacturing operation located close to key strategic markets, helping improve supply chain resilience and responsiveness.
The site is scheduled to enter service in 2029 and is expected to create nearly 500 skilled jobs. Safran also plans to implement a dedicated training program to develop the specialized workforce required to sustain long-term growth and operational excellence at the plant.
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, said the choice of Morocco reflects the country’s industrial strength and the quality of its talent pool. He noted that the facility, embedded within a dynamic aviation ecosystem, will enhance Safran’s resilience, agility and competitiveness while enabling the company to meet customer expectations, particularly those of Airbus, and prepare for future aircraft generations.
The announcement follows Safran’s October 2025 decision to establish a new assembly line and maintenance center for the LEAP engine in Casablanca, further deepening its partnership with Morocco.
Safran emphasized that the new landing gear facility will operate entirely on decarbonized electricity, aligning with the group’s broader sustainability commitments and efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of its industrial operations.
The project underscores Morocco’s expanding role in the global aerospace supply chain and highlights Safran’s strategy to diversify production capacity as aircraft manufacturers push for higher output levels in the coming years.
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