Modi inaugurates Safran's Rs. 1,300-crore aircraft engine MRO facility in Hyderabad, calls it a major step toward making India a global aviation hub

NEW DELHI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 26 inaugurated Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI), a large aircraft engine Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Hyderabad’s GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park, describing it as a milestone in India’s drive to become a global aviation services hub. Modi inaugurated the facility through video link.

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Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said the launch of Safran’s new centre marked “a new flight” for India’s aviation sector and would help establish the country as a global MRO hub. The project, he said, would also open up new high-tech employment opportunities for young Indians.

Modi recalled his meeting with the Safran leadership on November 24, noting their growing confidence in India as an investment destination. He expressed hope that the French aerospace major would continue to expand its footprint in the country.

INDIA’S AVIATION MARKET EXPANDING RAPIDLY

Highlighting the sector's rapid growth, Modi said India is now among the world’s fastest-growing domestic aviation markets and ranks as the third-largest globally. Rising aspirations and increased travel demand, he said, have prompted Indian carriers to place orders for more than 1,500 new aircraft.

With this expansion, the need for domestic MRO capacity has become urgent. Modi pointed out that almost 85 percent of India’s MRO work has until now been carried out abroad, resulting in higher costs and longer aircraft downtime. Establishing world-class facilities within India, he said, is essential for a market of India’s scale.