Mumbai, Oct. 22 -- The facility is expected to improve fleet availability by consolidating aircraft inspections, cabin maintenance and defect rectification activities, reducing aircraft ground time.
Air India has broken ground on a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), marking another step in the airline's ongoing transformation programme. The facility is intended to strengthen Air India's in-house maintenance capabilities at its largest hub while improving operational efficiency and fleet reliability.
Spread across nine acres, the facility is being designed to accommodate one widebody and one narrowbody aircraft simultaneously. It will centralise key engineering and maintenance functions, enabling greater operational oversight and reducing dependence on external maintenance providers.
"The new MRO facility will support Air India's efforts to build greater in-house maintenance capabilities, improve fleet reliability, and contribute to the development of a stronger aviation ecosystem in India. Enhanced maintenance efficiency is also expected to support improved operational performance and a more reliable travel experience for passengers," the airline said in a statement.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO & Managing Director, Air India, along with senior executives from Air India and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
The facility is expected to improve fleet availability by bringing aircraft inspections, cabin maintenance and defect rectification activities under a single location, reducing aircraft ground time. Integrated engineering offices and an on-site spare parts warehouse are expected to streamline maintenance workflows and lower logistics costs associated with dispersed operations.
Air India also expects the facility to improve passenger experience through a dedicated cabin shop that will enable faster repairs and refurbishment of aircraft interiors, reducing reliance on third-party vendors and addressing cabin-related defects more efficiently. The consolidation of technical teams and spare parts inventory is expected to accelerate the return of aircraft grounded due to technical issues, helping minimise operational disruptions.
Designed for future fleet requirements, the hangar will feature a 25-metre clear height and large column-free spans capable of accommodating next-generation aircraft. The project incorporates advanced fire protection systems and is being developed in line with Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) norms for energy and water conservation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Infrastructure Today.