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A Growing Industrial Presence in Aerospace
During the MRO Middle East trade show in Dubai, Le Journal de l’Aviation interviewed1 François Lebailly, Director of Projects & Services/Airlines at REEL. The discussion highlighted the group’s growing activity in the aerospace sector, particularly across the Middle East.
Founded in 1946, the French family-owned company REEL celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016. Headquartered near Lyon, it now employs over 2,000 people worldwide. Among its areas of expertise: the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of aircraft access equipment.
For over 20 years, REEL has collaborated with Airbus on final assembly lines for the A340-500/600, A380, and A350. The company also works with many airlines to deliver access systems for heavy maintenance operations (C-check, D-check), as well as ground support equipment. REEL ensures the ongoing maintenance of its systems, with permanent local teams—more than 200 full-time employees are dedicated to Airbus alone.
Aerospace Projects in the Middle East: A Strategic Growth Lever
REEL has been active in the Middle East for over a decade, with a permanent presence established five years ago. It has since delivered major projects in Dubai, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait.
Key milestones include:
- Emirates (Dubai): Design and delivery of a dedicated painting hangar.
- Qatar Airways (Doha): Full docking system for the new airport’s maintenance facilities, covering narrow- and wide-body aircraft including the A380.
- Oman Air (Muscat): Turnkey project for the new Muscat International Airport.
- Kuwait Airways: Delivery of eight maintenance bays for the airline’s new 777-300ER fleet.
Following successful partnerships in Europe with Air France and British Airways, REEL rapidly gained traction in the Gulf. “We began with Emirates, then Qatar Airways, and now Oman Air and Kuwait Airways. We hope to work with Etihad soon,” explains François Lebailly.
Developing Engine Maintenance Capabilities in the Region
REEL is also expanding its engine maintenance offering, including test cells and engine conveyor systems. The company has completed projects in Hong Kong, Paris-Charles de Gaulle with Air France, and near Cardiff with General Electric.
“This is a complementary area of expertise that we want to grow, especially in connection with major engine MRO hubs,” adds Lebailly.
Outlook for Maintenance Infrastructure in the Middle East
After a boom period between 2007 and 2015, aerospace infrastructure investments in the region slowed down in 2016. “Several projects were frozen at the end of 2015, but we expect many of them to resume in 2018,” says Lebailly.
Dubai South and Future Opportunities for REEL
Looking ahead, REEL is already positioning itself on the initial tenders for Dubai South—an upcoming aviation hub set to become Dubai’s primary airport. With existing operations in both Dubai and Jebel Ali, REEL also aims to expand into Abu Dhabi.
“The upcoming projects in this region will keep us busy for years,” concludes François Lebailly.
Reference:
- Journal de l’Aviation – Interview with François Lebailly (2017)
