TAM MRO estimates a growth by 20% a year until 2016

São Paulo, Ocotber 7, 2011 – (BM&FBOVESPA: TAMM4/NYSE: TAM)- TAM MRO, our maintenance, repair and overhaul center, intends to grow by 20% a year, in average, until 2016. To achieve this goal, we will increase the revenue with services rendered to external clients, improve processes and systems and search for strategic partners in line with its business plan.

The command of that mission is under the responsibility of Luiz Gustavo Silva, appointed executive director of TAM MRO last August. With his arrival, the unit started to respond directly to the holding TAM S/A, headed by Marco Antonio Bologna. “We are committed to expand our structure and capacity and encourage our growth as business unit independently from TAM. Nowadays, the maintenance services to third parties account for 15% of total revenue. We hope that this share exceeds 40% by 2016”, says Luiz Gustavo.

Responsible for the maintenance of our fleet, TAM MRO has also rendered services to external clients since 2008. With headquarters located at our Technological Center, in São Carlos (SP), also operates line maintenance stations of several airports in Brazil.

From January to August this year, TAM MRO carried out 80 checks and around 76,000 repairs of components in 20 different workshops. In the same period, the service to third parties, in number of checks carried out, has already grown by 240% in comparison to the same period of 2010.

The aircraft repair and preventive maintenance sector manages almost US$ 2 billion a year in Latin America. In view of the sector’s growth perspective, our unit is also preparing to ensure a sufficient structure to meet the demand increase. Therefore, we will launch, next year, projects to extend its productive capacity. We highlight the construction of new high-productivity hangars and new workshops in São Carlos.

In September, TAM MRO has already launched a new 2,450 square meter hangar, with capacity to serve a narrow body aircraft (airplane for domestic flights, with a single corridor). Since its inauguration 10 years ago, the business unit has already received more than R$ 200 million in investments.

Other initiatives should also be launched to ensure qualified labor to render maintenance services. Two weeks ago TAM and Senai-SP (National Service of Industrial Learning) signed a protocol of intentions to re-open the Aircraft Maintenance Technical Course in São Carlos. As a free of charge course, it will admit 64 students in 2012. TAM MRO will provide the material to the practical classes and open treinee positions to participants, with priority to hiring.