Sops to develop India as aircraft repair hub

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

With 90% of the maintenance and repair of planes with Indian carriers being carried out abroad, the government has come out with incentives in the Union Budget for 2017-18 to develop India as the hub for aircraft repair in Asia.

According to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, the incentives that have been listed in the Budget include exemption of excise duty on tools and kits, easy clearance for the spare parts and allowing the import of unserviceable spare parts. Sinha, in a reply to question in Parliament, said although adequate facilities for maintenance and repair of planes are available in the country, but majority of Indian carriers send majority of their aircraft to foreign countries to carry out the overhaul maintenance services to maintenance organisations located abroad, which have been approved by the DGCA.

The maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) business of Indian carriers is around Rs 5,000 crore.