SIA Engineering is establishing a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) joint venture in India with Wadia Group, the Indian firm behind local low-cost carrier GoAir, writes Leithen Francis.
Last week the sides signed a memorandum of understanding to offer MRO services in India. SIA Engineering will own 51% and manage the business while Wadia Group will have the remaining stake, SIA says.
The joint venture will start with line maintenance at eight airports across India and expand to cover more airports and eventually handle line maintenance for narrowbody and widebody aircraft. It aims to "become a centre of excellence for airframe maintenance of Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-700/800/900s" and establish a "leading aerospace training institute", says SIA.
SIA Engineering chief executive William Tan says the Singapore MRO's move into India is in response to the "liberalisation of India's aviation sector" and increasing demand in India for MRO services.
Jeh Wadia of the Wadia Group says he decided to establish an MRO business because of a "lack of world-class MRO facilities in India".
Source: Flight International
