Air India is undertaking a major shift in its aircraft maintenance strategy by moving some maintenance services in-house, leaning on its shareholder Singapore Airlines (SIA) for expertise and support. This transition means Air India will begin handling pre-flight and daily inspections, minor repairs, and troubleshooting in-house, instead of outsourcing these tasks to the state-owned AI Engineering Services Ltd. (AIESL)
This move comes as Air India seeks to improve safety standards, reliability, and operational performance in the wake of sector-wide scrutiny, reportedly accelerated by a recent fatal crash and subsequent audits. The planned changes are also aligned with Tata Group’s broader transformation strategy for the airline, with Singapore Airlines (which holds a 25.1% stake) actively assisting in building in-house maintenance capability and staff training.
Additionally, Air India has partnered with SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), Singapore Airlines’ engineering arm, to develop advanced Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, including a major hub now under construction in Bengaluru. This facility will allow Air India to perform more complex base maintenance in-house, further reducing its dependence on state providers and positioning the airline for greater self-reliance and efficiency in the long term.
In summary, Air India’s shift to in-house maintenance, backed by Singapore Airlines’ expertise, marks a significant change in India’s aviation sector, aiming for safer, more reliable, and efficient airline operations as the carrier modernizes and expands its fleet.
