Aircraft repair centres to be set up in Kerala

ON CLOUD NINE

National flag carrier Air-India (AI) is planning to set up an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhauling facility centre in Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram at Rs 50 crore each and will revamp the existing facility in Mumbai soon.

"AI will soon set up repair facilities in Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram at Rs 50 crore and is planning to set up more such facilities in other parts of the country," said V Thulasidas, the AI chairman and managing di rector.

Earlier, PIB had recommended acquisition of 68 aircraft in total at an estimated cost of Rs 35,000 crore. At present, AI has a fleet of 42 aircraft and has inducted 24 more on dry lease.

The 24 new ones include three for its subsidiary, Air India Express. AI is finalising the location for the overhauling facility and would start work on the project soon, Thulasidas said.

According to sources, the sites would have two parking bays and annexure for repairs and maintenance of aircraft.

"The Thiruvananthapuram facility will focus on repairing the 737 aircraft, while at Delhi the focus will be on the 777 aircraft. AI will soon start revamping the Mumbai facilities in the wake of the proposed acquisition of 68 aircraft," the sources added.