Kolkata: The city airport is set to become a hub for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for Code C aircraft like Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 that are the most common types flown by Indian carriers in domestic routes. Nearly 80% project work has been completed and bids are expected to be invited for leasing out the infrastructure to MRO firms sometime next year. The Indian MRO industry is growing at a rapid pace and is currently pegged around Rs 11,000 crore annually.
“We are constructing three new modern hangars on the eastern side of the runway near Narayanpur. Work on the taxiway and apron area has been completed. Around 20% work on the hangars is over. Work had ceased during the lockdown but restarted in July. Now, it is progressing full-steam and should be over by March 2021. Thereafter, it will either be leased to an airline or a third party MRO firm,” said Kolkata airport director Kaushik Bhattacharjee.
With nearly 25 planes — most of them A320 or B737 — stationed at Kolkata airport during the night, the airport operator believes it is ideally suited to house an MRO facility. Moreover, being the gateway to north-east India and South East Asia, Kolkata could become a mini-hub for MRO in the region, say aviation industry experts.
Airlines in India spend about 13-15% of their revenues towards maintenance. It is the second-biggest cost item for airlines after fuel. While airline engineers carry out on-tarmac inspections (A and B checks) in-house, they work with third-party MROs for engine, heavy maintenance (C and D checks) and modifications. In Kolkata, AI has an operational hangar.
10/09/20 Times of India
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“We are constructing three new modern hangars on the eastern side of the runway near Narayanpur. Work on the taxiway and apron area has been completed. Around 20% work on the hangars is over. Work had ceased during the lockdown but restarted in July. Now, it is progressing full-steam and should be over by March 2021. Thereafter, it will either be leased to an airline or a third party MRO firm,” said Kolkata airport director Kaushik Bhattacharjee.
With nearly 25 planes — most of them A320 or B737 — stationed at Kolkata airport during the night, the airport operator believes it is ideally suited to house an MRO facility. Moreover, being the gateway to north-east India and South East Asia, Kolkata could become a mini-hub for MRO in the region, say aviation industry experts.
Airlines in India spend about 13-15% of their revenues towards maintenance. It is the second-biggest cost item for airlines after fuel. While airline engineers carry out on-tarmac inspections (A and B checks) in-house, they work with third-party MROs for engine, heavy maintenance (C and D checks) and modifications. In Kolkata, AI has an operational hangar.
10/09/20 Times of India
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