Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday virtually inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility in Hyderabad, stating that the new project will significantly strengthen India’s emergence as a global hub for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).
Addressing the event via video link, Modi said the facility demonstrates India’s progress toward self-reliance in aviation. “This facility will strengthen India’s position as a global MRO hub,” the Prime Minister noted.
The SAESI unit is Safran’s dedicated MRO centre for LEAP engines, which power widely used aircraft including the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. According to officials, this is the first time a major international aircraft engine manufacturer has set up an MRO facility in India, marking a milestone for the domestic aerospace sector.
Located in the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park-SEZ and spread over 45,000 square metres, the facility has been developed with an initial investment of around ₹1,300 crore. By 2035, it is expected to reach full operational capacity, servicing up to 300 LEAP engines per year and employing more than 1,000 skilled Indian engineers and technicians.
Equipped with advanced technology, the centre aims to provide world-class maintenance services while reducing India’s dependence on foreign MRO providers. Officials said the investment will lower foreign exchange outflows and support the country’s aviation supply chain.
The government highlighted that the project will also create high-value jobs and contribute to India’s vision of becoming a major global aviation hub.
Recent policy reforms, including GST changes in 2024, the MRO Guidelines of 2021, and the National Civil Aviation Policy of 2016, have helped streamline taxation and reduce operational barriers for MRO companies in India, supporting the sector’s expansion.
