Air India’s Big Move: The Mega MRO Facility in Bengaluru

In a bold move to transform India’s aviation maintenance capabilities, Air India has broken ground on a massive new MRO facility at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. The new MRO centre, set over an area of 35 acres, is part of a broader strategy at Air India to modernize its fleet, insource maintenance operations, and reduce dependency on foreign MRO providers.

The official announcement came after an MoU signed earlier between Air India and the Government of Karnataka, followed by a strategic partnership with SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) to develop and operate the facility.

What the Facility Will Offer: Infrastructure & Capabilities

A “Mega Hangar” — Wide- and Narrow-Body Under One Roof

One of the standout features of the new facility will be a mega hangar capable of accommodating both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft under a single roof, enabling base maintenance for a variety of aircraft types. Beyond this, Air India plans to expand capacity further — additional hangars, including a dedicated paint hangar, are part of the blueprint.

Modern Maintenance Technology & Equipment

The MRO facility will be equipped with modern infrastructure — overhead tele-platforms, cranes, universal docking systems, and in fact, the largest vertical lift hangar doors in the country. Such infrastructure puts the facility on par with global MRO standards.

This level of sophistication is intended to support heavy maintenance checks, structural repairs, routine base maintenance — a full-fledged overhaul ecosystem rather than just superficial line maintenance.

Building a Self-reliant Maintenance Ecosystem

With this facility — along with expansion of existing line-maintenance capabilities (for routine upkeep) across the airline’s network and a recently refurbished hangar in Mumbai — Air India aims to maintain almost its entire fleet in-house from around 2025 onwards.

Further, Air India plans to launch a formal training arm — a Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) in Bengaluru from 2025 — to train aspiring aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) and type-rated engineers. This will ensure a steady inflow of skilled workforce qualified to handle maintenance and overhaul tasks.

Economic & Employment Impacts

Over 1,200 Skilled Jobs — Plus Indirect Opportunities

Air India estimates the new MRO facility will create more than 1,200 job opportunities for skilled aviation engineers across India.

But the ripple effect is likely to be much larger, with as much as seven times more indirect jobs to be created over time thanks to allied supply-chains, spare parts suppliers, ancillary services, logistics, local SMEs, and more.

The facility is also expected to support more than 200 SMEs in Karnataka through supply-chain integration, thereby helping the local economy and strengthening the aviation ecosystem beyond the airline.

Strengthening Regional Aviation & Local Economy

In positioning Bengaluru in Southern India as the MRO hub, Air India strikes a balance in terms of capability spread across the country-avoiding concentration either in Mumbai or Delhi-apart from helping develop Bengaluru as a global aviation hub. Local talent and businesses will stand to benefit, thereby raising the level of regional economic growth.

More often than not, such developments create multiplier effects: more employment leads to better spending power, growth of supporting businesses, improvement of infrastructure around the airport, and added investment, thus contributing to overall economic uplift of the region.

Strategic Significance for Indian Aviation

Reducing Dependence on Foreign MRO Providers

Most airlines in India and the region have traditionally depended upon foreign MRO providers for heavy maintenance. Factors like these add cost, time, and dependency. This large in-house MRO will enable Air India to substantially reduce such dependence, handle the maintenance cycles on its own, and function with more flexibility and control.

Supporting Fleet Expansion and Global Ambitions

A strong base of maintenance infrastructure would, therefore, ensure reliability and safety; readiness would be assured, with Air India continuing to modernize its fleet and expand globally. This will reflect positively in passenger service quality, operational efficiency, and long-term growth plans.

Developing a Competent Workforce: Long-term Capacity Building

By associating the MRO facility with a training organization, namely BMTO, Air India is building not just infrastructure but is investing in human capital. Training of new aircraft maintenance engineers at this facility would meet the growing demand for qualified technicians and ensure sustained maintenance capacity as the fleets grow.

This is a significant step for India’s ambition to build a self-reliant and world-class aviation maintenance ecosystem.

What It Means for India — and Why We Should Care

In many ways, this Air India MRO venture reflects the growth maturity of the Indian aviation industry. It’s not just about flying more number of aircraft; the attention is more on building an infrastructure that guarantees safety and efficiency in airplane operations.

The project could ensure job opportunities with better pay and security to engineers and aviation professionals, something that was never the case in Indian aviation on a large scale. Smaller enterprises and SMEs may gain from growth, contracts, and new income by being supply-chain partners.

A domestic MRO facility, in the view of the nation, with lesser dependency, saving forex, quick turnaround times for maintenance, and airlines operations resilience-which is very important as the Indian aviation demand keeps on growing.

Lastly, with the recovery and growth of international aviation, positioning India as an MRO hub could attract third-party airlines or clients in the future, making India a significant maintenance hub in the region. This is part of the larger “aviation economy” that consists of not just passenger flights but also cargo and other ancillary services.

Challenges & What to Watch Out For

Of course, there are challenges involved in building and operating such a major MRO:

Ensuring a high level of maintenance standards and safety by providing adequate training to the staff, certification through BMTO/ regulatory approvals, and quality control.

• Managing supply-chain, spare parts, and logistics efficiently, considering so many SMEs and ancillary stakeholders involved.
• Scheduling of maintenance in line with fleet utilization to prevent downtime, delay, or backlog.
• Keeping up with evolving aircraft technology: As aviation goes on upgrading to newer models, so should the MRO be in a position to adapt.

Though, if done right, the payoff could be high.

Conclusion: A Milestone for Indian Aviation

The decision of Air India to establish a mega MRO facility in Bengaluru is a major milestone, not only for this airline but for Indian aviation as a whole. The 35-acre campus, mega hangars, modern maintenance equipment, and a training academy together symbolize a holistic push toward self-reliant, world-class maintenance infrastructure.

Creating more than 1,200 highly skilled jobs in itself and allowing many hundreds of SMEs to be employed, this is a project promising economic uplift. By improving maintenance capability, it strengthens reliability and safety and contributes toward long-term growth. By building human capital, it lays the foundation for sustained aviation growth in India.

In short, this is not about planes alone; it is about building an aviation ecosystem. And if things go as planned, Indian skies will emerge stronger, safer, and self-reliant.