Hyderabad, November 28: India’s aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market is expected to grow to $4 billion by 2031, bolstering the country’s ambition to become a global aviation hub, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of French aerospace major Safran’s new MRO facility in Hyderabad, Naidu said the expansion of domestic maintenance capabilities would help Indian airlines significantly cut costs and reduce dependence on foreign service centres.
“Carrying out aircraft MRO activities within the country will help save up to $15 billion in foreign exchange in the coming years,” he said, adding that the cost savings for airlines “will be passed on to the passengers”.
The Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility, scheduled to become operational in 2026, is expected to boost the country’s indigenous aviation ecosystem. The plant will support maintenance of engines used by several Indian carriers.
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing civil aviation markets, with domestic airlines having more than 1,500 aircraft on order as they expand fleets to meet rising travel demand. Naidu said the sector was poised for sustained expansion, projecting an annual MRO industry growth rate of 8.9%. “India is on the way to becoming a global aviation hub,” he added.
The government has been seeking to attract investment in the MRO industry through policy reforms and incentives, aiming to shift a substantial share of overseas maintenance work back to Indian soil.
