PM Modi’s major gift: Safran’s massive MRO hub opens in Hyderabad, will repair 300 aircraft engines annually

India’s aviation sector reached a historic milestone today. Safran’s massive Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub has officially opened at the GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park-SEZ at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this latest facility via video conferencing on Wednesday. This is not just an MRO center, but a decisive step towards making India a global aerospace power.

In his address, PM Modi said that India’s emerging aviation sector is poised for a new takeoff, and this Safran facility will prove to be a milestone in establishing India as a global MRO hub. He said that we consider investors not just investors but co-creators of India’s development journey. He pointed out that India’s domestic aviation services have seen unprecedented expansion in the last few years, and the country is now among the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. India’s domestic aviation market has now become the third largest in the world.

85% MRO Abroad

PM Modi noted that approximately 85% of India’s MRO work was still performed in foreign countries, leading to increased costs and prolonged grounding of aircraft. However, the government has now placed a significant focus on strengthening the MRO ecosystem. Decisions such as the GST reform, the 2021 MRO Guidelines, and the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 have infused new energy into the sector.

SAESI

This facility of Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) spans 45,000 square meters and was built at a cost of approximately ₹1,300 crore. It is one of the largest engine MRO centers in the world and marks the first time a global engine manufacturer (OEM) has established such a setup in India. This hub will be capable of repairing 300 LEAP engines annually. These are the same engines that power popular aircraft like the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

Employment for over 1,000 youth

By 2035, this facility will employ over 1,000 local engineers and technicians. Equipped with high-tech machinery and advanced processes, this center will not only enhance India’s repair capacity but also provide significant foreign exchange savings.