Aviation

Air India Initiates Construction of MRO Facility at Bengaluru Airport

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Air India Group, owned by Tata, announced the launch of a massive Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. As reported by TOI.

Marking a significant step in the airline’s long-term strategy to develop the city as a major aviation hub alongside Delhi and Mumbai. The ambitious project, with an investment of Rs 1,400 crore, aims to bolster India’s self-reliant aviation ecosystem by providing cutting-edge aircraft maintenance capabilities.

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According to Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, the MRO facility is expected to generate around 1,200 jobs for skilled aviation engineers and provide opportunities for over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Karnataka.

The construction, set on a 35-acre parcel at the Bengaluru International Airport, will be completed in phases. The first phase is projected to be ready by the end of 2025, with full operations commencing in 2026. The facility will feature 12 hangar bays designed to handle both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, air india refurbishment and future expansion will include additional hangars and a dedicated paint hangar.

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Equipped with advanced aircraft maintenance technologies such as overhead tele platforms, cranes, universal docking systems, and India’s largest vertical lift hangar doors, this MRO facility will meet global standards. Air India envisions that the Bengaluru center, along with its refurbished wide-body hangar in Mumbai and upcoming wide-body hangar in Delhi, will make the airline self-sufficient in maintaining its entire fleet from 2025.

In a parallel effort to ensure a steady supply of skilled professionals, Air India also plans to establish a Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) in Bengaluru by next year. This training facility will provide engineering students with specialized training air india cadet pilot program to become certified aircraft maintenance engineers, with an initial goal of training 50 engineers.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.