MRO

Malaysia, 26th May 2025: Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) subsidiary of Capital A has been awarded two key international recognitions: Maintenance Organisation Approval (EASA.145.0967) from the EASA and Repair Station Certificate (ADNY458E) from the FAA. ADE is now officially recognised by both EASA and the FAA as an organisation that upholds the highest global standards to maintain and release aircraft, parts, and components back into service under their respective regulations. YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Malaysian Minister of Transport, said “Congratulations to Asia Digital Engineering on attaining certifications from EASA and the FAA—two of the most prestigious aviation authorities in the world. These landmark achievements mark a major leap forward not only for ADE but also for Malaysia’s aerospace sector as a whole. It reaffirms our nation’s capability to meet and exceed international standards, and positions Malaysia as a rising global hub for high-quality, dependable aircraft maintenance. I am confident that ADE’s continued growth and excellence will further elevate Malaysia’s standing in the global aerospace industry and inspire other local players to aim higher.” Mahesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Asia Digital Engineering, said “These milestones reinforce our position as a leading MRO in the region and underscore Malaysia’s growing role as a major hub for aviation maintenance. While we remain the primary MRO for AirAsia, we now support a growing portfolio of airlines across the region and beyond — delivering world-class, safe, and high-quality, value-driven maintenance on a global scale. These certifications enable us to offer our services to even more airlines internationally. None of this would be possible without the unwavering dedication, discipline, and expertise of our Allstars. The credit truly goes to them.” Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of Capital A, said “We are incredibly proud of Asia Digital Engineering’s accomplishments, which are consistently reaching new heights. The certification from EASA and the FAA isn’t just a win for ADE—it’s a win for Malaysia and the Asean aviation industry. It shows that once again, our homegrown talent can take on the best in the world.” Since its establishment in 2020, ADE has earned the trust of airline partners across the region by delivering exceptional MRO services, pioneering digital innovations, and maintaining a strong focus on customer satisfaction. The company has completed over 180 base maintenance checks in under four years, an impressive track record that underscores both speed and quality. In addition to its EASA and FAA approvals, ADE is an approved maintenance organisation (AMO) in 10 countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Thailand and Myanmar. In October 2023, ADE received its EASA Part 145 Maintenance Organisation approval. Last year, ADE launched its state-of-the-art 14-line MRO hangar — the largest and most advanced facility in Malaysia. Building on this momentum, ADE RedChain 2, a dedicated workshop and training centre is set to be launched in Q3 this year, further strengthening ADE’s ecosystem and talent development efforts.

New Delhi, 29th April 2025: AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) organised its annual conference with the theme,“Aviation Horizon 2025” in New Delhi on 28th April 2025. The conference was graced by Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, where he mentioned that India is the fastest-growing MRO market and is expanding three times faster than the global rate offering limitless opportunities. He said, “AIESL, the country’s largest MRO service provider, stands at the forefront of our MRO growth, backed by the transformative policies of the Government. It is a symbol of Indian aviation’s ambition, innovation and Atmanirbharata.” The Aviation Horizon 2025 conference had a series of impactful sessions highlighting India’s journey towards becoming a global MRO hub, with AIESL leading the transformation. Mr. Sharad Agarwal, CEO of AIESL, presented AIESL’s expansive capabilities across all segments of aircraft maintenance, emphasizing the organization’s world-class facilities spread across India. He assured that AIESL is fully equipped to offer comprehensive, end-to-end MRO services within the country, aligning with the vision of strengthening India’s self-reliance and reducing dependency on overseas maintenance services. Mr. R.S. Thakur, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, highlighted the significance of the conference, which witnessed the presence of a wide spectrum of stakeholders including airlines, lessors, OEMs, MROs, DGCA and FAA representatives, and government officials from around the globe. He emphasized that AIESL’s customer-centric and collaborative approach has built a strong global presence. Looking ahead to year 2030, Mr. Thakur stressed that only through deeper collaboration among stakeholders can India unlock much higher MRO revenue potential than currently projected. Aviation Horizon 2025 conference had also various panel discussions where Industry experts shared their thoughts citing real time examples and had engagements with the delegates. * Airline-domestic MRO partnerships: drivers of sustainable business * Civil military MRO: opportunities for civil MRO in the defence sector * Component MRO: challenges and the road ahead * Workforce challenges: bridging the skills gap and attracting talent to the aviation MRO sector. * India as a global MRO hub, opportunities, challenges and the road ahead. Aviation Horizon 2025 was attended by CEOs & top executives from airlines, senior leadership from global OEMs, MoCA, DGCA and other key regulatory bodies.

Gurugram,22nd April, 2025: AIR WORKS Group, one of India’s oldest and biggest MRO and aviation services major, has recently completed 75 years of its presence in India. It was on 16th April 1951, that Air Works’ founders – (Late) Mr. BG Menon and (Late) Mr. PS Menon, laid the foundation of what has today become the “Indian MRO industry” – by commencing operations at the Mumbai International Airport. Beginning with maintenance of Douglas DC-3s and DC-4s on behalf of leading industrialists and international airlines flying to India, Air Works eventually established a powerful and comprehensive portfolio of aviation Engineering and Maintenance services that spanned over 50 different types of aircraft (General Aviation) at a time, including forging strong and meaningful relationships with several global OEMs. During the journey, Air Works founders’ also established a specialized Academy to train and produce highly skilled aircraft maintenance professionals in the early 80s, ahead of time. Air Works also set up the first EASA-approved, private Commercial aircraft maintenance facility at Hosur, Tamil Nadu, diversifying its business to include maintenance of Commercial aircraft within Indian shores, boosting indigenous MRO capabilities significantly. In 2011-12, Air Works also entered the Defense MRO business by forging a strategic partnership with Boeing for maintaining BBJ aircraft for Heads of State.As one of the key player in the Indian Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) industry, Air Works has an enviable customer mix that includes Indian and regional airlines, lessors, airlines and cargo operators, OEMs and Defense forces. “The entire company is thrilled to celebrate this momentous and record-breaking, once-in-a-lifetime milestone,” said D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works Group. He further added, “Our journey has been one of passion, perseverance, and professionalism, driven by the commitment of our founding fathers’ to continue serving the evolving needs of our customers and those of the overarching aviation industry. None of this would however be possible without the support and dedication of every one of our 1600+ employees, our customers and partners. Turning 75 isn’t just a company achievement – but a collective tribute to the faith and commitment of every member of the Air Works family.” Sharing his experiences with young colleagues, Ravi Menon, Director, Air Works Group, remarked, “We never imagined surviving such a long journey in this dynamic industry, or of ever growing from 50-100 member team to become a family of 1600+ today. Our greatest advantage is our culture and family values that foster collaboration, trust, and transparency, together with the unique opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the finest, most passionate and sought after minds in the field of aviation engineering & maintenance, across our pan-India network. The developments over the past year at Air Works have made us even more agile, and we’re raring to go.” Echoing Ravi’s sentiments, D Anand Bhaskar said, “Air Works’ ability to continually adapt and transform has been our greatest strength. 75 is an inflection point, and we stand re-vitalized and busy, re-inventing for tomorrow. Even as it has been a personal honor to have led Air Works Group while reaching this ground- breaking milestone, I strongly believe that with the host of initiatives in our pipeline, Air Works will undoubtedly remain at the center of aviation and MRO opportunities for those desirous of being in the thick of action, with many more exciting stories to be told. In closing, and on behalf of every Air Works family member, I remain indebted to everyone who has been part of our exciting yet arduous journey, including our customers, regulators, the government, our partners, and aviation OEMs who’ve believed in us.”

New Delhi, April 9, 2025: Mahindra Aerostructures,a part of the Mahindra Group, has been awarded the contract by Airbus Helicopters to manufacture and assemble the main fuselage of its H130 light single-engine helicopter — marking a major milestone for India’s ‘Make in India’ vision and further cementing Mahindra’s position as a trusted partner in the global aerospace supply chain. The contract was signed in the presence of Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus in India and South Asia, and Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group. Under this agreement, Mahindra will produce the H130’s main fuselage assembly, which will then be shipped to Airbus Helicopters’ facilities in Europe. Industrialisation will commence immediately, with the first cabin assembly scheduled for delivery by March 2027. Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said, “We are delighted to deepen our longstanding partnership with Airbus through this pivotal aerostructures contract. As a global leader, Airbus has played a transformative role in nurturing India’s aerospace ecosystem and showcasing it on the world stage. It is an honour for us to build on our proven track record with Airbus, harness our industrial process excellence, and embark on this new initiative. This collaboration highlights our commitment to supporting the Government of India’s flagship ‘Make in India’ program.” Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus in India and South Asia said, “We have a strategic plan for India and we are implementing it to develop a holistic aerospace ecosystem across all dimensions: assembly, manufacturing, engineering, innovation, digital and training. The H130 fuselage manufacturing contract underscores Airbus’ confidence in the growing industrial excellence of the Indian supply chain, which offers the right mix of competencies and competitiveness. We are glad to extend this bond with India through our latest association with our partner Mahindra Aerostructures.” Mahindra already supplies a variety of parts and sub-assemblies for Airbus’ commercial aircraft programmes. The latest contract marks a significant milestone for Mahindra as it continues to expand its portfolio of capabilities from parts and sub-assemblies to larger and more complex aerostructures. For Airbus, India is both a major market and a strategic resource hub. Today, every Airbus commercial aircraft has components and technologies made in India. Currently, Airbus’ annual procurement of components and services from India stands at $1.4 billion. The H130 is an intermediate single-engine helicopter tailored for passenger transport, tourism and private and business aviation, as well as medical airlift and surveillance missions. It has a wide, unobstructed cabin, which accommodates the pilot and up to seven passengers, providing outstanding visibility through a large wrap-around windscreen and wide windows. Its state-of-the-art technologies, materials, systems and avionics make it a quiet and powerful helicopter.

Saline, Michigan,22nd March 2025: Liebherr-Aerospace Saline and SkyWest Airlines have signed agreement for landing gear overhaul and systems maintenance on a defined portion of SkyWest Airlines’ Embraer 175-E1 fleet. Program overhauls will commence in 2025 and undergo complete “restoration” in accordance with Embraer’s requirements for continuing intervals of 30,000 flight hours or 12 calendar years. From the first entry into service in 2004, the Embraer 170/175-E1 family aircraft have proven highly successful with over 950 deliveries and current production backlog. Mr. Will Dew, Managing Director Commercial at Liebherr-Aerospace Saline, Inc. noted: “We initiated induction lines for the first Americas region overhauls in 2012 and have continuously operated active lines for the complete Embraer E170/175/190/195-E1 family since that time. Over the course of the prior three years, we have undertaken a structural transformation of our MRO activities to establish additional capacity, mature efficiencies, and anchor supply chain resilience within the landing gear product line. In this upcoming phase of overhauls, we welcome SkyWest Airlines as a lead customer that will benefit from this achievement”. The complete landing gear system for the Embraer E1 generation of E-Jets was developed and is manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Germany), Liebherr’s center of competence for flight control and landing gear systems.

Gurugram, 22nd March 2025: Thales has opened its new avionics MRO facility in Gurugram, near the New Delhi airport. Aligned with the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, this centre will provide a wide range of services, including the maintenance & repair of avionics components, to prominent Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo. This new repair hub draws on Thales’s expertise as a global leader in the aerospace industry, providing premium support and services to airline customers in India. The inauguration was done by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in the presence of Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in India, along with senior Government officials and eminent dignitaries from the French Embassy and the industry. The Thales team was led by Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice President, Avionics, Thomas Got, Vice President, Aviation Global Services and Gilles Bono, Vice President, India. This occasion marks a milestone in Thales’s continued investment strategy in India’s rapidly expanding aviation market. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said, “My heartfelt appreciation goes to Thales for setting up this dedicated facility in India to provide onshore MRO services to our airlines. Taking a tour of the facility and seeing it firsthand, I must say that I am deeply impressed by the meticulous planning and innovation that have gone into creating this centre. I believe the inauguration of this advanced avionics MRO centre marks a significant milestone for Indian aviation and a proud moment for Thales in India. This facility exemplifies our collective commitment to building a self-reliant India and a self-reliant aviation ecosystem.Thales stands out as a shining example of Indo-French collaboration, we must together leverage India’s vast talent pool and facilitate India’s rapidly growing aviation market.” Thomas Got, Vice President Aviation Global Services, Thales, said, “India’s MRO industry is set for significant growth, becoming a key region for airlines. We are proud to inaugurate our Thales Maintenance and Repair Centre in India. This highlights our localisation efforts to bring our technological and avionics repair expertise closer to airline customers. The Gurugram centre is backed by the power of a global support and services organisation, and aligns with Thales’s strategy to expand its presence in India.”

Mumbai, 29th January 2025: Air India, is set to showcase its premium cabin product and in-flight offerings at the upcoming Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2025, scheduled to take place from 30 January to 1 February 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai. Taking inspiration from Air India’s signature design philosophy, the exhibition booth has been conceptualised with ‘The Vista’ as an integral part of its structure, blending aesthetics with immersive digital experiences. The pavilion will showcase various aspects of Air India’s transformation journey, captivating audiences with a live demonstration of Business Class and Premium Economy seats that are today available on Air India’s newly retrofitted A320 family aircraft. These aircraft come with subtle cabin mood lighting, spacious legroom and wider pitch, and modern features, like portable electronic device (PED) holders and USB ports to charge mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets, among others. Visitors will be able to experience the seats in real-time while also getting a glimpse of Air India’s brand new A350 product at the Virtual Reality (VR) experience zone. In addition, Air India will also display a selection of in-flight meals to showcase its refreshed menus and enhanced dining experience onboard. “OTM 2025 presents a significant platform for Air India to engage and deepen ties with more than 40,000 key trade visitors from across the globe while highlighting the milestones of our transformation journey. With the Air India pavilion featuring unique activations and immersive experiences, including our Business Class and Premium Economy seats, we are set to demonstrate our commitment to delivering world-class product and services to our customers,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. At the VR experience zone, visitors will embark on a virtual journey of the state-of-the-art A350 aircraft that have recently been deployed between Delhi and London Heathrow, New York (JFK), and Newark. The booth will also give visitors a chance to sign up for Maharaja Club, Air India’s all-new frequent flyer program that offers a host of privileges and exclusive benefits.