Air India kicks off construction of mega MRO facility in Bengaluru
Air India Group announced this month that construction of a mega maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility has kicked off. The facility, being built on 35-acres of land at the Bangalore International Airport will become an important hub for Air India Group airlines’ aircraft maintenance operations in the region, as the airline modernizes its fleet and expands its global operations. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner for Industrial Development & Director, Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Karnataka; Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and Chin Yau Seng, CEO, SIA Engineering Company among others.
Earlier this year, Air India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka to establish MRO facilities in Bengaluru. Air India has also signed an agreement with SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) to be its strategic partner for the development of the facility.
Krishna, said, “It is heartening to see the quick turnaround that Air India has made in starting work for the MRO. This is not only a milestone for Indian aviation, which is growing at a rapid pace, but also for the state of Karnataka, which is taking a lead in the aviation sector with Bengaluru set to emerge as an important global aviation hub in the coming years.”
Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director, Air India, said, “India’s aviation sector is on a growth trajectory and Air India is playing a leading role in this. The Bengaluru MRO facility is coming up at an opportune time to help strengthen India’s aviation ecosystem, while enhancing our in-house capabilities to maintain our fleet. This is a step ahead in our mission to make Air India a world-class airline.”
Marar added, "We are pleased to welcome the establishment of Air India’s MRO facility at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru. As we work towards developing the Airport into a major aviation hub, this marks an important step towards strengthening the fleet maintenance capabilities and infrastructure offering. This development will not only enhance regional connectivity and drive economic growth but also create valuable opportunities for local talent and businesses, reinforcing Bengaluru's position as an important player in the aviation ecosystem.”
Once completed, the MRO is expected to generate more than 1,200 new job opportunities for skilled aviation engineers in India, and support 200 SMEs in Karnataka through an enhanced supply chain. The MRO facility will also support Air India’s plans to make Bengaluru one of its key hubs, boosting direct connectivity to global destinations.
It will feature a mega hangar to accommodate wide- and narrow-body aircraft under a single roof for base maintenance. The facility’s capacity will be further expanded to include additional hangars for servicing more aircraft, including a paint hangar. Equipped with latest aircraft maintenance technology, including overhead tele platforms, cranes, universal docking systems, and the largest vertical lift hangar doors in the country, the MRO facility will set a new standard in aviation maintenance at par with any MRO in the world, reads the Air India Group press release.
