LYON—Latecoere Services, a subsidiary of the Toulouse-based aerostructures and wiring specialist, is preparing to expand in Asia this year, offering integrated engineering, production and installation, said Cécile Houdet‐Bai, EVP of Latecoere Services.
The move comes after the 500-employee division, formed in January 2025, posted strong revenue and profit performance for 2025. The performance is significantly contributing to the group’s improving financial results, as aftermarket services traditionally generate higher profit margins than the delivery of new products. Latecoere is leveraging this activity to stabilize its financial situation.
Asia is the next priority for Latecoere Services, building on the success of its regional organization. For a closer relationship with customers, Latecoere’s North American facilities handle demand from that region. Typically, an electronic wiring and interconnection systems (EWIS) repair facility in Los Angeles is in charge of cabin connectivity upgrades for Boeing Global Services, Houdet-Bai said.
Meanwhile, services activities for Europe, the Middle East and Africa have been regrouped in a single site in Toulouse. “We intend to open an entity in Asia, with sales and operational activities,” Houdet-Bai said.
Meanwhile, the subsidiary is gearing up to offer three kinds of services it has so far been selling separately. Integrating the engineering, production and installation of an aircraft modification for a customer carrier will increase added value, Houdet-Bai said.
“We will sell such solutions under our Design Organization Approval for Supplemental Type Certificates,” she added.
In aerostructures, Canada-based Comtek has found a steady business in repairing composite parts for Mitsubishi (formerly Bombardier) CRJ regional jets. “Some components can no longer be found as spare parts,” Houdet-Bai said. In Toulouse, a so-called speed shop has been dedicated to Latecoere Services, machining metallic replacement parts on short notice. “Customers are willing to pay a premium for a faster delivery, such as 7-30 days instead of 90 days,” Houdet-Bai says, adding some suppliers are different from those linked to Latecoere’s production activities.
In addition to aerostructures and EWIS, a third activity focuses on customer support for Latecoere’s cameras and inflight entertainment systems. “We see a lot of demand for the Airbus A380,” Houdet-Bai said.
“Our Services entity is at the center of gathering feedback on Latecoere’s products, for future improvement.” Being in touch with customers for aftersales services, Latecoere Services acts as a showcase for the group, she added. On-time delivery performance has increased to 90%, from 40%, she said.
Related Content
