LONDON–Leonardo Helicopters has opened a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility here that will serve the company’s growing number of UK rotorcraft customers.
With around 50 new Leonardo-made rotorcraft purchased by commercial customers in the UK between 2024 and 2026, the company has decided to open a dedicated MRO facility at Elstree Aerodrome, just a few minutes flying time from Central London.
Managed by subsidiary Leonardo Belgium, the new, 1,500-m² facility was formally opened on May 27. It has been built to accommodate up to four AW189s, Leonardo’s largest commercial helicopters, or larger numbers of smaller types such as the AW139, AW169 and AW109 twins and the AW119 light single. The £15 million ($20 million) facility that will perform heavy and line maintenance is Leonardo’s 10th site in the UK. It is built on a green-field site on the north side of Elstree Airfield, providing additional room for expansion.
Elstree is also home to a geographically separate facility housing £10 million worth of spare parts.
“The UK is for us one of our most important global markets, with more than 200 helicopters serving a broad range of missions,” said Andrea Mirteto, senior vice president for sales at Leonardo Helicopters. “This facility represents a long-term strategic commitment to the UK and Ireland, strengthening the Leonardo presence, reinforces our relationships with customers, and lays a foundation for the next stage of growth.”
Having initially explored the potential of opening an MRO facility at its site in Yeovil, England, the company opted for Elstree because of the airfield’s proximity to London and many of the customers who regularly fly into the area.
Many of these customers would have previously sent their aircraft MRO to competitors such as Gama Aviation or to Leonardo’s sites in Paris or Liege, Belgium.
MRO operations at the facility began in March, employing 10 people. But the number is set to grow to 25 people as demand ramps up. The site will also act as a sales suite for the company’s Agusta luxury brand.
“This is not simply about the opening of a hangar. It is about a new capability for the UK and Ireland, bringing Leonardo closer to its customers, improving operational support and strengthening local expertise,” said Francesco Bellardi, Leonardo Helicopter’s vice president for Customer Support and Services.
As part of the facility’s creation, Leonardo will work in close collaboration with the nearby University of Hertfordshire to provide industrial input to its engineering curriculum, so that students graduate with industry-ready skills.
Leonardo first explored plans to establish an MRO facility in the UK in 2018 and finally selected the location in 2021. The company entered a partnership with Aldenham Aviation, the owner of Elstree Aerodrome, in 2024.
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