Excavators are rolling at Monchengladbach airport in Germany, where Rheinland Air Service is increasing its maintenance capacities with the construction of a third large hangar.

The expanded headquarters site will house two maintenance hangars, a spare parts warehouse, as well as 15,000 sqm of modern office space. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, RAS was recording a steady increase in orders from business aviation. That business growth urgently required more space and more skilled workers. In the short term, 50 new jobs are expected, with an eventual goal of 100 new jobs.

The expansion of operations and the start of construction on the third hangar were originally planned for 2020. But the ongoing crisis postponed those plans by a year. That led to a difficult situation, as the lack of space made it harder for RAS to meet the demand for maintenance and repair of business jets. The hangar expansion, and new jobs, position RAS for continued growth and more personalised service for regional airlines and business aviation.

“Our clear goal is to remain the leading European MRO maintenance partner for ATR regional aircraft,” says Walter Lange, COO for RAS. “And to continuously strengthen our long-term customer relationships.”

Currently more than 50 ATR aircraft and more than 100 business jets are serviced, repaired, and maintained annually in Rheinland Air Service's hangars.

The new hangar is the company's most extensive expansion to date, involving a total investment of 15 million euros. Completion is forecast for the summer of 2022.