737 fuselage production in Wichita, Kansas.
New plants near Casablanca strengthen the North African country’s role in the A320 supply chain
Morocco is consolidating its place among the world’s aerospace hubs. Safran, the French group and a key Airbus supplier, has launched new investments in the Casablanca area at a time when aircraft manufacturers are ramping up production.
The most significant project is the engine complex in Nouaceur, inaugurated in the presence of King Mohammed VI. The assembly and testing plant will have a capacity of 350 LEAP-1A engines a year, the powerplant of the Airbus A320neo. The investment totals 2.1 billion dirhams (about €190 million) and will create 300 skilled jobs by 2029. Safran’s overall commitment in the country exceeds 3.4 billion dirhams, around €350 million. According to industry press estimates, the Moroccan line will cover about a quarter of LEAP-1A production for Airbus, which until now has been concentrated mainly at Villaroche, near Paris.
In February 2026, Safran Landing Systems also inaugurated a plant in Nouaceur, set to become the group’s largest landing-gear production site. It represents an investment of around €280 million and will produce mainly components for the A320 program. The site is located in Midparc, the country’s integrated aerospace industrial zone.
Safran has been present in Morocco for more than 25 years. In Casablanca it already operates the country’s largest aerospace site, dedicated to nacelles, which was recently expanded by 6,000 square meters.
CEO Olivier Andriès cited skilled labor, modern infrastructure and economic stability as decisive factors. For Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour, the sector shows Morocco’s growing competitiveness: aeronautics exports rose from under 1 billion dirhams in 2004 to over 26 billion in 2024.
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