**Executive Summary**
This document responds to parliamentary questions regarding Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Bengaluru, specifically addressing the relevance of the Safran MRO center in Hyderabad, the status of MRO projects around Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, the projected growth of the MRO market, and skill development initiatives. The response was given on January 29th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Safran MRO Facility (Hyderabad)**
* The Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility is a dedicated MRO for LEAP engines.
* It can service up to 300 LEAP engines annually.
* It strengthens the domestic supply chain, enhances technical capabilities, and supports ancillary vendors.
* **Bengaluru MRO Projects**
* Air India and IndiGo have started constructing MRO facilities at Bengaluru International Airport.
* Estimated investments are INR 1460 crore and INR 1100 crore respectively.
* Each facility will be capable of handling approximately 3 wide-body and 6 narrow-body aircraft.
* These projects are expected to generate employment and enhance skills in the region.
* **MRO Market Growth and Government Measures**
* The MRO industry is projected to grow to USD 4 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 8.9%.
* New MRO Guidelines (September 1, 2021) abolish royalties and increase transparency in land allotment for MROs.
* Taxes (IGST) on imported aircraft components and engine parts have been reduced to 5%.
* GST on MRO has been reduced from 18% to 5% with full Input Tax Credit.
* Subcontracted transactions by foreign OEMs/MRO to domestic MRO are treated as 'exports' with zero-rated GST.
* Customs duty has been exempted on tools and tool kits.
* The export period for imported goods for repairs has been extended from six months to one year.
* The re-import time-limit for goods under warranty repair has been extended from three to five years.
* Visa Manual amended to grant Business Visas and Temporary Landing Permits to foreign pilots/crew for MRO services.
* **Skill Development Initiatives**
* AirIndia is establishing a Basic Maintenance Training Organisation (BMTO) at Bangalore International Airport.
* It will offer a 2+2 year Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program, certified by DGCA.
* The campus will include modern classrooms, laboratories, and qualified trainers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Air India and IndiGo**
* **Impact:** Involved in the construction and operation of major MRO facilities in Bengaluru.
* **Action Required:** Continue developing and operating the MRO facilities according to planned capacity and investment.
**MRO Industry Stakeholders (Including Safran, SAESI)**
* **Impact:** Benefiting from streamlined regulations, tax incentives, and market growth projections.
* **Action Required:** Adapt to new guidelines and capitalize on reduced taxes to enhance competitiveness.
**Bengaluru and Karnataka Region**
* **Impact:** Will experience significant employment generation and skill enhancement due to the MRO projects and training initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Support the expansion of the MRO sector through infrastructure development and workforce readiness programs.
**Trainees and Aviation Workforce**
* **Impact:** Benefitting from new skill development and certification programs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs offered by AirIndia's BMTO and other institutions.
**Foreign Pilots and Crew**
* **Impact:** Facilitated access to India for MRO services via amended Visa Manual provisions.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the new visa provisions for Business Visas and Temporary Landing Permits when entering India for MRO-related activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The central ministry responsible for policies related to civil aviation in India; the primary subject of the parliamentary question.
MRO Guidelines: New guidelines introduced to facilitate the development of the aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul sector.
Bengaluru: The central location for the MRO facilities and hub development plans discussed in the parliamentary question.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulatory body overseeing aviation safety and standards in India; certifies the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program.
Safran Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre: A key MRO facility in Hyderabad, serving as a point of comparison and relevance for Bengaluru's MRO development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 6
th
(To be answered on the 29 January 2026)
MRO FACILITIES IN BENGALURU
6. SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI
SHRI P C MOHAN
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the Safran Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre
inaugurated in Hyderabad in November 2025 and its relevance for strengthening the
overall aviation maintenance ecosystem including supply chains and vendor
opportunities for MRO facilities in Bengaluru;
(b) the present status, capacity, investment outlay and employment potential of the
Air India mega MRO facility and other MRO projects being developed in and around
Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru;
(c) the projected growth of MRO market of the country and the specific measures
being taken to position Bengaluru as a major regional hub for aircraft maintenance
and aviation manufacturing; and
(d) the skill development and certification initiatives being undertaken in
collaboration with industry and training institutions in Bengaluru and Karnataka to
create a trained workforce for the expanding MRO sector?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) The Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility inaugurated in
Hyderabad is Safran's dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility
for Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engines. The facility has been
designed to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually. The MRO facility strengthensthe domestic supply chain, deepens high-precision technical capabilities and fosters
ancillary vendors.
(b) As per information received, Air India and IndiGo have started construction of
major MRO facilities for civilian aircraft at Bengaluru International Airport at an
estimated investment of INR 1460 crore and INR 1100 crore respectively. Each of
these facilities will be capable of handling about 3 wide-body and 6 narrow-body
aircraft which will result in significant employment generation and skill
enhancement in the region.
(c) The MRO industry is projected to grow to USD 4 billion by 2031, registering
a CAGR of 8.9 per cent. The Government has taken various measures to create a
conducive environment for the development of aircraft MRO sector in the country
which will also benefit Bengaluru. These include the new MRO Guidelines
announced on 1st September, 2021 which inter alia abolish royalties and build in
transparency and certainty in land allotments for MROs in AAI airports. On the
taxation front, Government has reduced the taxes (IGST) on imports of aircraft
components and aircraft engine parts to 5%, to make the domestic aerospace industry
more competitive. GST on MRO has been reduced from 18% to 5% with full Input
Tax Credit and Transactions sub-contracted by foreign OEMs/MRO to domestic
MRO are treated as 'exports' with zero-rated GST. Customs duty has also been
exempted on tools and tool kits.
Further, the period for export of goods imported for repairs has been extended from
six months to one year and the time-limit for re-import of goods for repairs under
warranty has been extended from three to five years. More recently, the Visa Manual
has been amended to incorporate suitable provisions for granting Business Visa and
Temporary Landing Permit (TLP) to foreign pilots and crew of scheduled or non-
scheduled flights coming for the purpose of MRO services in India.
(d) As per information received from Bangalore International Airport, AirIndia is
setting up a Basic Maintenance Training Organisation (BMTO) that will offer a
combined 2+2-year Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program, certified by
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This campus will include modern
classrooms, fully equipped laboratories for practical training and a team of qualified
trainers.
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