Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is banking on India's predicted boom in medium and large aircraft to make a success of its new MRO facility, which opens next month.
Quoting conservative estimates from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), CIAL's executive director A.C.K Nair said the 135,000sqft facility would "fill the current vacuum" for a dedicated MRO servicer in India's southern peninsula.
"As per the conservative forecast by DGCA, by 2015 the number of aircraft with a seating capacity of 300 or more flying in India is projected to go up to 36 and 200-300 seater aircraft to 120," Nair told Global Airport Cities.
"Aircraft with 100-200 seats will be up by 350 and 50-100 seaters will increase by 200. By 2020 the total number of aircraft operating in India will reach 2,000 which brigtens the prospects for MRO business," Nair adds.
Tipped to open next month, phase one of the MRO centre will see two 2,750m narrowbody hangars completed, along with workshops, parking and run up bays.
Phase two will see the construction of two more narrowbody hangars allowing CIAL personnel to work on a maximum of six aircraft at a time once it is fully operational.
CIAL envisages building partnerships with MRO providers and airlines, as well as technical collaboration agreements with related industries once the MRO facility is up and running.
The new MRO is a centrepiece of privately run CIAL's 'aerotropolis' plans, which includes a completed aviation academy, an 18-hole golf course and an airport museum which is nearing completion.
The airport is "proactively targeting" cargo and business jet operators in India, the Middle East and South East Asia ahead of the opening of its MRO facility and hopes its proximity to an AME school and captive regional markets will hep boost its appeal.
