Indian airlines are stepping up efforts to build domestic maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities as their aircraft fleets expand. The move is aimed at reducing dependence on overseas facilities, improving operational flexibility and strengthening India’s aviation maintenance ecosystem.
The country’s MRO market for aircraft airframes, engines and components is projected to triple to $9.5 billion by 2035, driven by the rapid growth of the civil aviation sector. India’s commercial aircraft fleet currently stands at around 800 and is expected to double in the coming years.
Air India Plans Bengaluru MRO Facility
Air India is working to increase the amount of aircraft maintenance it can undertake in-house, particularly for wide-body aircraft. The airline’s Senior Vice-President of Engineering and Maintenance, Jeremy Yew, said recent disruptions in West Asia exposed the challenges of depending on overseas MRO capacity.
The airline had planned to send some aircraft to facilities in the region but faced difficulties in securing alternative maintenance capacity after the crisis began.
Air India expects to establish its own MRO facility in Bengaluru by the end of 2027. The airline also has more than 540 aircraft scheduled for delivery in the coming years.
IndiGo and Akasa Air Expand Maintenance Capabilities
IndiGo’s Senior Vice-President of Engineering and Maintenance, Parichay Datta, said airlines need to become more self-reliant as fleet expansion outpaces the growth of MRO infrastructure. He also highlighted the importance of partnerships with independent maintenance providers, provided they meet commercial, capability and safety requirements.
Akasa Air is developing an MRO facility at Noida airport, which is expected to become operational in 2028.
India’s MRO Market Set for Growth
Industry representatives from GMR Aero Technic, AI Engineering Services, Airworks and Max Aerospace have also highlighted the potential for expanding domestic maintenance capabilities.
Airbus had earlier projected that India’s commercial aircraft fleet could grow to 2,250 over the next decade. It estimated that the market for airframes, engines and components could reach $9.5 billion by 2035.
As airlines add aircraft and demand for maintenance rises, investments in domestic MRO facilities are expected to play a larger role in India’s aviation sector.
