New Miami centre for Latin American support

Satair Group’s Latin American support offering has been dramatically enhanced with the commissioning of a new state-of-the-art support facility in Miami in the first quarter of 2016.

Located just seventeen miles and 20 minutes from Miami International Airport, the 25000 square feet multi-million dollar building is four times the size of the previous small Miami facility and becomes the second – new – joint Satair Group and Airbus support centre after the opening of the Singapore facility in February 2014.

John Gattasse, Satair Group Account Director in the Americas says: “With a long term commitment on the lease of the building, this is a major commitment of long-term support for Latin American airlines and MRO customers. It also increases the Satair Group American footprint by complementing the two existing Material and Logistics Centres in the USA.

“The new Miami facility will provide even better support to our existing customers. In the past, parts shipped from our other facilities would funnel through a freight forwarder. Now logistically it is much simpler with parts shipped directly to customers’ own logistics centres/freight forwarders located close to Miami International Airport.”

Rodolfo Perez, Satair Group Account Director, based in Brazil, added: “Whilst the economic slowdown in Brazil and Argentina has had a domino effect across the entire Continent affecting the region’s air travel market, all the indications are that growth will resume soon. The timing of this major investment means that Satair Group is positioning itself for the medium-longer term future in the Latin American aviation market.

“The growing success of Airbus airliners in Latin America means there are now major carriers in the region and we have worked hard to win their support business.

“These include the LATAM and Avianca groups, Aerolineas Argentinas, GOL, Azul, TAME, SKY, VivaColombia, Interjet, Volaris and VivaAerobus to name some. MROs such as Aeroman, GE CELMA, TAP-ME and others are also important to us.

“The potential for future growth is impressive. Of the top 20 major cities in Latin America only 40% are directly connected once daily by air. Low Cost Carriers now account for 40% of the total seats in the region, compared to only 10% in 2004, meaning more people that never flew before are now flying.”

While the Satair Group facilities at Ashburn, Virginia and Atlanta, Georgia, continue to be the main spares centers for the Americas, the new Miami facility will stock off-the-shelf much of the consumable Airbus proprietary parts and many other parts used by all our Latin American customers.

The new Miami facility will also feature modernised production of aerospace hose products and a HAZMAT (hazardous material) centre of excellence, as well as office space. In support of the Eaton's superior products lines, Satair Group has made a significant investment in its production facility and modernization of tooling to ensure the highest product reliability and satisfaction.Further investments to streamline the speed of service and the range of supporting services offered are under consideration.

Rodolfo Perez concluded: “We are very excited about this new facility and our major investment shows that Satair Group is committed to help develop the air transport industry in Latin America.”