Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes has launched new aircraft maintenance, repairs, and aircraft overhauls (MRO) business unit in Brazil.

Named as GOL Aerotech, the new business unit is located at Confins Airport in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The new facility is designed to conduct maintenance services on Boeing 737 Next Generation, 737 Classic, 737 MAX and Boeing 767 family aircraft.

GOL Aerotech has received approval to perform MRO services from national and international regulators, including Brazil’s National Agency Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

GOL operations vice-president Celso Ferrer said: “Our maintenance centre is already recognised as the most advanced in Latin America, and with the launch of GOL Aerotech we create a new competitive advantage.

“With more than 13 years of aircraft maintenance experience performed on GOL’s own aircraft, we have refined key processes and advanced the necessary requirements to serve our customers with excellence.”

Covering an area of 145,000m², the new service centre has two hangars for maintenance and a hangar for painting. It also has six workshops that are equipped to perform repair and overhaul of wheels, brakes and steel structures, as well as the inspection of engines and other components.

With the assistance of more than 760 employees, which includes engineers and technicians, the facility is capable of serving an annual average of 80 aircraft.

Additionally, GOL Aerotech will provide over 600,000 hours of maintenance availability. Having an investment exceeding R$130m ($30.6m), GOL is expecting revenues of R$140m ($33m) from the new facility by 2020.