Air India breaks ground for state-of-the-art MRO hangar at Delhi Airport, boosting India's self-reliance in aircraft maintenance

Air India today announced the ground-breaking of its new multi-facility Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), marking another significant milestone in the airline's transformation journey. The facility will strengthen Air India's maintenance capabilities at its largest hub while enhancing operational efficiency and self-reliance.

Spread across nine acres, the state-of-the-art facility is being designed to accommodate one widebody and one narrowbody aircraft simultaneously. It will enable Air India to centralise key engineering and maintenance activities, bringing critical functions under direct operational oversight.

The new MRO facility will support Air India's efforts to build greater in-house maintenance capabilities, improve fleet reliability, and contribute to the development of a stronger aviation ecosystem in India. Enhanced maintenance efficiency is also expected to support improved operational performance and a more reliable travel experience for passengers.

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, along with senior executives from Air India and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), including P Balaji, Group Head - Governance, Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Affairs, Air India; Basil Kwauk, Chief Operations Officer, Air India; Jeremy Yew, Senior Vice President - Engineering & Maintenance, Air India; Manomay Rai, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, DIAL; Vijay K Sharma, Vice President & Head - Aviation Services Business, DIAL; and Deepika Sharma, AGM - Aero Related, Commercial Aero, DIAL, among others.

Key Operational Benefits:

• ​Enhanced Fleet Availability: By centralizing inspections, cabin upkeep and defect rectification, the facility will significantly reduce aircraft ground time.

• ​Operational Efficiency: Integrated engineering offices and on-site warehouse for spare parts will eliminate fragmented workflows and reduce logistics costs.

• ​Improved Passenger Experience: A dedicated Cabin Shop will ensure faster repairs of interiors, reducing reliance on third-party vendors and minimizing cabin-related defects.

• ​Rapid Recovery of Grounded Aircraft: Direct access to technical teams and spares will enable faster resolution of aircraft grounded due to technical reasons, minimizing disruptions.

Designed for long-term scalability, the hangar features a 25-metre clear height and large column-free spans to accommodate next-generation aircraft. The project adheres to strict safety standards, including advanced fire protection, and aligns with Air India’s ESG commitments by following IGBC Green Building norms for energy and water conservation.