Malaysia Airlines plans maintenance hub in India

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airlines said Wednesday it has teamed up with the operator of India's Hyderabad airport to set up an aircraft maintenance hub to capitalize on India's fast-growing aviation market.
It is the airline's first such overseas venture and part of its efforts to boost income as it reels from high jet fuel cost.
Under the pact with GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd., the Malaysian flag carrier said a maintenance, repair and overhaul center would be established to service narrow and wide-bodied aircraft at the new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
There are currently some 300 aircraft in operation in India, with more than 200 new planes expected to take to the sky in the next two years and up to 2,000 new planes over the next decade, the airline said in a statement.
Currently, most of the aircraft are sent to Malaysia and other maintenance centers overseas for heavy maintenance, it said.
The airline will provide technical and management expertise in the joint venture with GMR Hyderabad, he said.
20/08/08 The Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, France

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Categories: Airports Aug 2008, Foreign Aug 2008, New Aug 2008