Indian general aviation company Taneja Aerospace plans to expand into the commercial aircraft maintenance and wet-lease markets by opening a new narrowbody hangar and operating BAe ATP freighters for local freight company First Flight Couriers, writes Brendan Sobie.
Taneja joint managing director Prashant Gurha says a new hangar at its airport in Belagondapally outside Banglore will open in May and be able to accommodate one Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, as well as one ATR or ATP. Taneja is now talking to Indian carriers that are interested in using the new hangar for their own maintenance, but the company is interested in launching its own maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business.
Gurha says Taneja may launch its planned narrowbody MRO business in partnership with Indian airlines or large international maintenance companies, but it could also launch the business on its own. “We’re already halfway there. We’re looking to bring on a partner to add value,” he says.
To support its new narrowbody MRO business, Taneja is now extending the runway at Belagondapally from 1,220m (4,000ft) to 2,290m. Taneja already has two hangars at its 89Ha (220 acre) airport, one of which can only accommodate regional aircraft, while the other is only used for small general aviation aircraft.
Taneja also has been hired by India’s First Flight Couriers to operate three ATPs that the company is leasing from BAE Systems. Gurha says Taneja is preparing to launch on 1 June a domestic air cargo service on behalf of the Mumbai-based courier company (Flight International, 28 February–6 March). “They are acquiring the aircraft. We’re doing everything else,” Gurha says.
Source: Flight International
