Nolan Associates

Norwich Airport Works Commence

15 Oct 2019

Works have begun to construct a new 54000 ft sq hangar at Norwich Airport. The development which will also feature a new 15000 ft sq repair and maintenance workshop for KLM’s operations at the site.

Then development is being undertaken by local contractor MJS Construction with Structural and Civil Engineers Nolan Associates of Birmingham and Stephen George and Partners of Leicester providing the design. The buildings will be completed in August 2020.

The £7 million development is part of Rigby Group and KLM’s continuing investment in the airport. The Rigby group owns the Norfolk based airport as well as Bournemouth Airport, Coventry Airport, and Exeter Airport.

Photo by Jon Rogers

Left Right:
James Shipley, finance director at KLM UK Engineering; Peter van der Horst managing director at KLM UK Engineering; Richard Pace, managing director at Norwich Airport;
Mark Thomas finance director at Satys Air Livery UK; Paul Woods, sales director at Satys Air Livery UK.

The deal provides KLM UK Engineering with significant additional new capacity providing high quality aircraft maintenance and repair services to customers worldwide. KLM UK Engineering employs 390 staff at Norwich and also delivers aircraft engineering apprenticeships and training through its technical training college located in the neighbouring International Aviation Academy Norwich.

KLM UK Engineering is headquartered at Norwich where it has operated for more than 40 years. It currently has five fully equipped heavy maintenance bays across three hangars at the airport and has extensive experience on many aircraft types including Embraer170/190, Boeing 737 (all series), Airbus A320 family, BAe 146 and Avro RJ, and Fokker 70/100 types.

The build of a new hangar for KLM UK Engineering at the airport gives Satys Air Livery UK Ltd the opportunity to take on the hangar vacated by KLM UK Engineering. This will consolidate Norwich as the head office of Aftermarket and VIP Painting Division of the Satys Group and the largest place in Europe for repainting narrow body aircrafts (4 hangars).

Thierry Melet, managing director of Satys Air Livery UK Ltd, said: “We are looking forward to consolidating our position in Norwich. The additional hangar will provide both additional capacity for growth and potential synergies to satisfy our current customers in a very competitive market.”