Avianor, an affiliate of DRAKKAR, has inaugurated its cutting-edge hangar at Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, home to its new A220 Centre of Excellence.
Originally announced at Le Bourget – the Paris Air Show in June 2023 – construction of the A220 Centre of Excellence began in autumn of the same year and was completed within a year. Today’s official opening marks a major milestone in Avianor’s continued growth.
The A220 Centre of Excellence represents a CA$70 million investment in advanced infrastructure, digitisation, premium-grade equipment and innovative technologies. The project received CA$9 million in funding from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy (MEIE), along with a repayable contribution of CA$7.6 million from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), provided through the Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI).
The 105,000 ft² hangar introduces four new maintenance lines dedicated to the A220 aircraft, with additional capacity to support other narrow-body aircraft. With this expansion, Avianor now operates up to seven maintenance lines, significantly boosting its capabilities for specialised services, including new aircraft entry into service.
The hangar has been designed to optimise efficiency and precision in aircraft maintenance. It features cutting-edge technologies such as SafeSpill’s advanced fire protection systems to ensure operational safety, energy-efficient LED lighting for sustainable work environments, and heat pumps for eco-friendly climate control. The facility also includes mega doors for seamless aircraft movement, a detailed paint shop and a sandblasting room for exterior and interior refinishing. Additionally, the inclusion of an advanced access shaft further streamlines maintenance operations. (USD1.00 = CA$1.40 at time of publication).
