India Strengthens Its Aviation Ambitions as PM Modi Inaugurates Safran MRO Facility in Hyderabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility in Hyderabad, marking a major milestone in India’s emergence as a global aviation hub. The state-of-the-art centre, located inside the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, is Safran’s first major Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operation in India. Built with an initial investment of around ₹1,300 crore, the facility is dedicated to servicing LEAP aircraft engines, which power the Airbus A320neo family and the Boeing 737 MAX—two of the world’s most widely used commercial aircraft.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo/PTI) | Business Standard

A Landmark Infrastructure for India’s Growing Aviation Sector

The sprawling 45,000-square-metre facility is a significant development for India’s burgeoning aviation market. With domestic airlines placing massive orders exceeding 1,500 aircraft, the demand for engine maintenance is expected to rise sharply in the coming decade. Having a dedicated high-tech engine overhaul centre within India eliminates the need to send engines abroad for deep maintenance, reducing aircraft downtime and saving substantial foreign exchange outflow.

The SAESI facility is expected to gradually become one of the largest engine-repair hubs in Asia. Once fully operational by 2035, it will have the capability to overhaul up to 300 LEAP engines annually. Beyond strengthening operational efficiency for airlines, it will create over 1,000 highly skilled jobs for Indian engineers and aviation technicians, strengthening domestic expertise in core aerospace engineering.

Boosting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Vision

The establishment of Safran’s engine-repair operation is widely viewed as a strategic push toward India’s self-reliance in critical aviation infrastructure. For decades, Indian carriers relied on foreign MRO centres due to the absence of comparable domestic capabilities. Safran’s investment changes this landscape, bringing advanced engine-maintenance technology and global operational standards directly into India.

This move aligns closely with the government’s vision of building a strong aerospace ecosystem under “Atmanirbhar Bharat.” The facility not only supports commercial aviation but also complements Safran’s broader plans to expand its manufacturing footprint in India. The company is already engaged in producing complex engine components, forging LEAP parts, and exploring opportunities for deeper defence-aviation collaboration in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Industry experts note that this could eventually contribute to India’s long-term goals of developing indigenous engine-related capabilities.

Strengthening Global Confidence in India’s Aviation Potential

The inauguration of the SAESI facility is being welcomed not just as a domestic milestone but also as an important moment for global aviation networks. As airlines increasingly seek cost-efficient and reliable maintenance hubs, India’s entry into the global MRO map is expected to draw attention from international carriers as well. Competitive turnaround times, a skilled workforce, and India’s strategic location between East and West place the country in a favourable position to attract global engine-servicing demand.

Safran has expressed strong confidence in India’s growth trajectory, projecting that its annual revenue from the Indian market could triple by 2030. The company’s continued investments and long-term commitments indicate that India is now viewed as a vital pillar of the global aerospace supply chain rather than merely a consumer market.

The MGMM Outlook

The inauguration of Safran’s state-of-the-art MRO facility in Hyderabad marks a decisive shift in India’s aviation growth story. The scale of the project, backed by ₹1,300 crore of investment, signals that India is moving from being a high-potential aviation market to a country capable of hosting complex aerospace infrastructure. As domestic airlines prepare for a massive fleet expansion, having a world-class overhaul centre for LEAP engines within India strengthens operational efficiency, cuts foreign-maintenance dependence, and elevates the country’s credibility in handling advanced aviation technology. The facility’s capacity to become one of Asia’s major engine-repair hubs by 2035 also reinforces India’s strategic advantages—its skilled workforce, expanding air-traffic demand, and rising global relevance.

Safran’s long-term commitment deepens this transformation by integrating India into the global aerospace supply chain rather than limiting it to a buyer’s market. The expansion of local manufacturing, the creation of over a thousand specialised jobs, and future collaboration prospects with HAL point towards stronger technological capabilities within the country. As global carriers search for reliable, cost-effective maintenance destinations, India’s emergence as a competitive MRO hub builds broader international confidence in its aviation sector. The Hyderabad facility arrives at a moment when India is preparing for unprecedented growth in both civil aviation and aerospace engineering, ensuring that the momentum generated today shapes a more self-reliant, globally competitive aviation ecosystem in the decade ahead.

(Sources: Hindustan Times, Business Standard, NDTV)