NEW DELHI: Safran, the world’s largest aerospace engine manufacturer, has firmed up plans to invest up to 300 million euros (about $305 million) in India. A 200-million-euro maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) in Hyderabad will be the French MNC’s largest shop facility in the world for LEAP engines when it’s operational by 2025. In India to inaugurate three centres and announce the MRO, Safran global CEO and director Olivier Andries spoke to TOI about “friend” Bharat. Excerpts:
What made Safran choose India for having the largest LEAP engine MRO here?
We have a lot of customer airlines in India using the LEAP engines for their A320neos/B737 MAXs. There is a backlog of 1,500 engines to Indian carriers. India is a very important and strategic market for us. Air traffic here will double in a decade. The MRO will service 300 engines annually and have a work force of 1,000 by 2030 as the capacity grows in phases. It will serve airlines of India and of the region, including the Middle East.
