DR ‹ › Ryanair is considering Morocco as one of the potential locations for its future in-house engine maintenance workshops (MRO), the airline's CEO Michael O'Leary announced on Tuesday. «We are actively negotiating with six locations for these facilities», he told Aviation Week on the sidelines of an event in Vienna. In addition to Morocco, the countries under consideration include Spain, Italy, Poland, the Baltic states, and Northern Ireland. According to O'Leary, these destinations are among the leading contenders to host two maintenance sites, for which the group plans to invest a total of $800 million. A decision on the first site is expected «in the coming months». The project is part of a recently signed memorandum of understanding with CFM International, covering a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar engine services contract. The 15-year agreement is considered «crucial» by the airline, both for engine overhauls and the supply of spare parts. O'Leary also highlighted that Morocco is one of Ryanair's fastest-growing markets, noting that the airline recently opened its fifth airbase in the country, located in Rabat.
