São Paulo-based business aircraft services provider Lider Aviation is increasing capacity by spreading operations among other airports in the area after its footprint at Congonhas Airport (SBSP) is being contracted following airport operator Aena’s focus on airline expansion there. Lider will move from its long-time hangar at SBSP to a new but smaller building and hangar area near other business aircraft service providers on the far side of the runway.

Company CEO Junia Hermont told AIN that the new facility will offer “a more modern and comfortable experience for our clients” but with a 50% reduction in hangar space. Aircraft charter, management, and FBO services will continue at Congonhas, as well as Guarulhos and Viracopos airports. Hermont said that “maintaining our operations in Congonhas is a great achievement, as the airport is strategically located close to the main financial and corporate areas of São Paulo.”

However, airplane MROs, including Gulfstream- and HondaJet-authorized service providers, have moved to Lider’s 43,000-sq-ft hangar at Sorocaba Airport (SDCO), increasing its maintenance capacity by 66% and freeing ferry and test flights from slot restrictions it dealt with at SBSP. Rotary-wing operations, hangarage, and MRO will move to a new base—Lider’s 22nd—at São Paulo Campo de Marte Airport (SBMT). Its Bell and Leonardo MRO will move to Helicidade in a partnership that will “simplify logistics for Bell and Leonardo owners who operate” at the heliport, according to Hermont.

As a result, Lider’s simultaneous MRO capacity will increase from 42 to 45 aircraft, not including the Helicidade partnership. The aging Congonhas hangar was Lider’s largest national maintenance installation. Despite the upheaval, Lider has retained its expertise, telling AIN, “All of our collaborators were reallocated among our bases.”