Air India inks agreement with SIA Engineering Company for collaboration on MRO

Air India, India’s leading global airline, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) to explore a collaboration in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) which will contribute to the development of India as a global aviation MRO hub.

Agreement Overview
- Date signed: July 3, 2026, in Mumbai.
- Parties: Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson and SIAEC CEO Chin Yau Seng.
- Purpose: To explore collaboration in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), supporting India’s ambition to become a global aviation MRO hub.

Background & Previous Collaborations
- Feb 2024: 12-year Inventory Technical Management (ITM) agreement for Airbus A320 family component support.
- May 2024: SIAEC appointed as Air India’s Base Maintenance strategic partner for facilities in Bangalore.

Strategic Significance
- India’s aviation growth: Expanding fleets and operations demand stronger local MRO capacity.
- Potential Joint Venture: The MoU could lead to a formal MRO JV in India, serving both domestic and regional markets.
- Expertise leverage: SIAEC brings technical depth to help build world-class maintenance capabilities.

Leadership Insights
- Campbell Wilson (Air India): Highlighted the need for a self-reliant MRO ecosystem to support efficiency, resilience, and long-term growth.
- Chin Yau Seng (SIAEC): Emphasized India’s fast-growing aviation market and the importance of building MRO capacity to strengthen its global aerospace position.

Key Note
- The MoU is non-binding at this stage, with details to be progressively firmed up in future.

This partnership signals Air India’s intent to anchor more of its technical and maintenance operations within India, reducing reliance on overseas facilities and aligning with the country’s aviation growth trajectory.