The facility currently has more than 300 personnel and is planned to scale up to around 1,100 employees at full operational capacity.
French aerospace major Safran has started maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations at its Hyderabad facility with the induction of its first engine, marking a major step towards developing an aero-engine servicing ecosystem in India.The facility, belonging to Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI), was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has become operational this year, Safran India Chief Executive Officer and Country Head J S Gavankar told businessline.The facility currently has more than 300 personnel and is planned to scale up to around 1,100 employees at full operational capacity.The Hyderabad centre will focus on servicing LEAP engines, which power a large proportion of the global narrow-body aircraft fleet, including aircraft operated by Indian carriers.Once fully operational, the facility is expected to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually, strengthening India’s position in the global aviation maintenance ecosystem.Besides, Gavankar said Safran is developing a specialised training ecosystem at the facility, with an on-site training centre expected to train more than 100 Indian technicians and engineers every year.Speaking to businessline, Gavankar said Indian employees will also receive advanced practical training opportunities at Safran’s engine facilities in France.Large aircraft ordersThe development comes as India’s aviation sector expands rapidly, with airlines placing large aircraft orders and demand for maintenance services increasing.India currently relies significantly on overseas facilities for heavy aircraft engine MRO activities.The expansion of domestic MRO capabilities is expected to reduce turnaround times and increase local value addition in the aviation sector.Furthermore, the growth of engine MRO facilities is expected to create high-skilled employment opportunities in areas such as aerospace engineering, precision maintenance and aviation technology.According to Gavankar, Safran has identified India as a strategic market and is looking to deepen its presence across the aviation value chain as the country’s airline fleet expands.The company said the Hyderabad facility represents a long-term commitment to building India into a global engine overhaul hub.Published on July 31, 2026
