LATAM Airlines Group cargo affiliate inaugurates maintenance hangar facility at MIA
LAN CARGO, an affiliate of LATAM Airlines Group, celebrated two important milestones for operations at Miami International Airport on Wednesday: inauguration of the Groups’ first maintenance hangar facility in the United States, and receipt of ISO 14001:2004 certification from Bureau Veritas for cargo ground operations and facilities at the airport.
Both milestones were celebrated at the new 98,242-square-foot maintenance hangar facility, which represents an investment of more than $15 million, according to LATAM Airlines Group.
“LATAM Airlines Group is committed to investing in a sustainable presence in the economies and communities where our workforce and customers live, and we are honored to inaugurate our first maintenance hangar in the United States in Miami,” said Cristian Ureta, CEO LAN CARGO, an affiliate of LATAM Airlines Group, in a press release. “Meeting the qualifications for ISO 14001:2004 certification for our cargo ground operation and facilities is something we are very proud of. Compliance with these standards will allow us to grow and develop our ground operation more efficiently, improve resource management and allocation, and reduce our operation’s environmental impact and carbon footprint.”
A representative from Bureau Veritas presented Ureta and LAN Cargo with the ISO 14001:2004 certification for corporate and administrative activities, storage, warehousing and ground support for air cargo transportation and the repair station for maintenance of its aircraft in Miami. The certification is three years in the making.
“Congratulations to LATAM Airline Group and to MIA on the completion of yet another significant improvement project at our largest economic engine,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, according to the press release. “LATAM’s consistent investment of capital and jobs at MIA, in addition to its steady passenger and cargo operations, are key drivers of MIA’s growth. Its investment of $15 million for this maintenance hangar alone speaks volumes regarding its role as a key business partner in Miami-Dade County.”
“LATAM is already MIA’s busiest airline group for cargo and our third-busiest for passengers, carrying more than 300,000 tons of cargo and more than two million passengers between Miami and South America annually,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González in the press release. “In addition to its global cargo headquarters firmly established at MIA, we deeply appreciate LATAM for choosing us as the location for its first maintenance hangar outside of South America. We also congratulate them for taking the initiative to be the first airline with an ISO-certified facility at MIA. Their commitment to the Miami market is sure to continue reaping huge dividends for our airport and our community.”
The new maintenance hangar is in the cargo zone at MIA, on the lot where building 715 stood before it was demolished by Miami-Dade County. The facility has a surface area of 66,500-square-feet, with 17,000-square-feet of warehouse and workshop space, as well as 14,500-square-feet of designated space for administrative offices, mechanical rooms, and other related use. The innovative roof design with the tail cupola can accommodate Boeing 777-300 and Airbus A350 size aircraft, and still meets the applicable structure height requirements.
The facility significantly increases the maintenance capabilities to serve the cargo and passenger aircraft maintenance needs of LAN, TAM and its affiliates. Maintenance services such as daily checks, A-checks, engine changes, major repairs, and component changes shall be conducted on site and it will also serve as storage for aircraft spare parts, components and engines to support such maintenance services.
HERALD STAFF
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 10:22 PM with the headline "LATAM Airlines Group cargo affiliate inaugurates maintenance hangar facility at MIA."