Aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing, which had invested US$ 100 million in Air India’s Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nagpur, Maharashtra, has now disassociated itself with the MRO facility citing financial constraints.
Confirming the news, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the facility, being developed in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Multi Modal International Passenger and Cargo Hub in Nagpur (MIHAN), will soon start its operations of maintenance of Air India aircraft and will be managed entirely by Air India.
The facility was tested last month and all necessary approval from DGCA and authorities concerned were taken.
Taking a stock of the facility’s latest development, Air India CEO HR Jagannath said, “Our talks with other private airlines for diverting their aircraft for maintenance facility to Nagpur are in progress.”
Boeing had entered into a joint venture (JV) with Air India for setting up and operating the MRO but it will now be solely maintained by Air India until and unless new players enter the field.
