Lokesh Invites Airbus to build MRO hub in Andhra Pradesh

As part of his official visit to Singapore, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics Nara Lokesh held a key meeting with Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia Pacific, to discuss strategic opportunities in the aviation sector.

He extended a formal invitation to Anand Stanley to visit Andhra Pradesh and explore the infrastructure and policy support available to aviation industry leaders.

Airbus currently holds a 65–70% market share in India's commercial aviation sector, primarily dominated by the narrow-body A320 family.

During the meeting, Lokesh emphasised the need for a dedicated Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub in India and proposed Andhra Pradesh as the ideal location for such a facility.

He pointed out that India has a high aircraft density, with growing demand from neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the wider Southeast Asian market, making it a strong captive market for MRO services.

Highlighting the growth trajectory of Airbus in India, he noted that over 850 Airbus aircraft are currently operational in the country, and India is projected to require approximately 1,750 new aircraft over the next two decades.

Lokesh underscored Andhra Pradesh's strategic potential to become South Asia's leading MRO hub, offering efficient service to both Indian and regional carriers and assured that the State is ready to build a comprehensive, world-class MRO ecosystem, aligning with Singapore's high operational and maintenance standards.

"Our proposed MRO hub will significantly reduce ferry times and operational costs for Indian airlines and enhance aircraft availability. It also opens up opportunities for servicing aircraft from neighbouring nations, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a key regional player," said Lokesh.