Thiruvananthapuram Airport Gets EASA Nod for International MRO Facility.

Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) is set to expand its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport with a new hangar, following a crucial certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

This EASA Part-145 certification is a major achievement, making the Thiruvananthapuram facility the first in South India and only the second in the entire country to receive this recognition. The certification allows the MRO unit to service aircraft registered in Europe and those leased under European regulations. This was secured after successfully servicing a UK defense F-35 fighter jet, as reported by The Times of India.

"This is a game-changer not just for Thiruvananthapuram, but for India's aviation MRO sector," an AIESL spokesperson told TOI. "We now meet the global gold standard for maintenance, enabling us to service aircraft from across Europe and beyond."

Planned Expansion and Global Reach

The new hangar, which will be a dual-unit structure capable of accommodating one wide-body or two narrow-body aircraft, is planned to be built next to the existing facility. The project is expected to begin operations within two years, pending internal approvals and the tendering process.

The current MRO unit, commissioned in 2011, already spans over six hectares and is equipped to handle Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. With the new EASA certification, the facility is now a preferred choice for heavy maintenance and lease return checks required under EASA protocols. The new hangar will include additional repair bays, overhaul sections, and component testing zones, and will feature environmentally friendly, electrically operated systems.

In addition to the EASA nod, AIESL holds certifications from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), covering various Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 variants. The EASA certification is expected to attract new contracts from international airlines, especially those in the Gulf, Southeast Asia, and Europe, and may even open doors for servicing advanced military platforms like the F-35 in the future.