Indian finalises MRO venture with Airbus, EADS partner

Bangalore, May 10 (UNI) Aviation major Indian today signed a tripartite Term Sheet, leading to the formation of the proposed joint venture with Airbus and city-based Jupiter Aviation and Logistics, for MRO and life cycle support of commercial aircraft.

Logistics was a exclusive strategic partner of EADS in India, The Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) venture would begin its activities in Delhi with two A320 hangars and a third hangar would be added later. The facility would cater to major maintenance of A320 fleet of Indian followed by check maintenance of ATR and other A320s in India.

Phase II expansion would cater to wide body and other aircraft types. In the third year, this joint venture would have facilities to cater to over 200 aircraft of both single aisle and wide body belonging to various customers from India and abroad. A comprehensive business plan had been worked out to meet the goals, a company release said here today.

Speaking after signing the term sheet in Mumbai, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Vishwapati Trivedi said, "This is the first of its kind in Indian aviation industry. This will be a win win situation for Indian and Airbus." Kiran Rao, Executive vice president of Airbus said that the tie-up would help Airbus fulfill the MRO obligation arising out of sale of its aircraft to Indian.

Jupiter CEO Ravi Narayanan said the work was on schedule and operations would start by October. This would emerge as the biggest MRO facility in this part of Asia.

UNI