Delhi-based Bird Air Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of $100 million Bird Group, today signed a marketing agreement with Pacific Propeller Intl (PPI), a US-based repair and overhaul services provider to regional airlines and military aircraft.
Under the agreement, PPI will provide its services and products through Bird Air Services within the Indian subcontinent. It will also help facilitate MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) services for propeller based engines for aircraft in India at PPI prop shops, said Ankur Bhatia, executive director, Bird Group.
"There has been a gap in India for MRO facilities and mostly airlines tend to send their aircraft either to the US, Europe or Gulf destinations for the regular maintenance. Our alliance with PPI will enable carriers in the Indian subcontinent to get better maintenance services within India," he told reporters, here today.
It is estimated that of the total airline expenditure, aircraft operators spend almost 13 per cent on aircraft maintenance and servicing. According to a recent report by Ernst and Young on the Indian aviation sector, MRO spending in India is estimated to rise from $440 million in 2007 to $1.2 billion in 2017, a growth of 11.8 per cent.
The Bird Group also announced signing of another agreement with Switzerland-based VistaJet Holding S.A. for securing exlusive marketing rights. Under the agreement, Bird Group will be in charge of the marketing of VistaJet in Indian subcontinent which include India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
VistaJet operates a fleet of Learjet 40 XR and Learjet 60 XR aircraft, Challenger 300, Challenger 604, Challenger 605 and 850 jets and the Global Express XRS jet.
According to Business Aviation Association for India (BAAI), Indian skies account for 166 private jets including multi-engine fixed wings and turboprops and 193 helicopters. While general industry faces several challenges, there is room for more players in the private aviation market in the country, Bhatia added.