The Prime Minister will inaugurate Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park–SEZ near Hyderabad via video conference on 26 November. The new facility is Safran’s dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul centre for LEAP engines used on Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. It is the first instance of a global engine OEM establishing an MRO operation in India.

Developed with an initial investment of about Rs 1,300 crore, the 45,000-sq-m site can service up to 300 engines each year and is expected to employ more than 1,000 engineers and technicians by 2035. The centre features advanced systems to deliver high-precision engine repair and maintenance.

The facility represents a major stride towards Aatmanirbharta in aviation by reducing foreign exchange outflows, strengthening supply chains and generating high-value jobs. The Government has been building an enabling ecosystem for MRO through GST reforms in 2024, the MRO Guidelines 2021 and the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, which have simplified procedures and streamlined taxation for service providers.