NACIL, EADS sign agreement for creation of MRO centre in Hyderabad

Mumbai, Oct 16 (UNI) National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services, today signed a joint venture agreement for creation of an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre in Hyderabad.

After it receives approval from the government, this centre will commence its operations from early 2009 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. It would become a Member of the Airbus MRO Network, a NACIL said here today.

As per the agreement, the joint venture will undertake airframe maintenance and repair of Airbus aircraft of NACIL to begin with.

Later, it will extend the facility to other types of aircraft (for instance ATR) and aircraft of other airlines as also aircraft other than the Airbus family and component maintenance business.

NACIL is a major operator of Airbus aircraft and is currently inducting 43 new A320 family aircraft into its fleet. The induction programme started with effect from mid-2007 and would continue till early 2010. Currently, it operates 43 A320s, 11 A319s, 10 A321s, eight A310s and two A330s of Airbus family aircraft.

Both NACIL and EADS are initially 50-50 equity partners in the joint venture. A third Airbus network partner and local affiliate EADS Company would be inducted soon. The total project cost has been estimated at USD 40 million spread over five years which includes new wide body aircraft hangars, equipment, the release added.

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