PM Modi Inaugurates Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) MRO Facility in Hyderabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility at the GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park – SEZ, Hyderabad, via video conferencing. Calling it a landmark moment, the Prime Minister said that from today, “India’s aviation sector is taking a new flight”, adding that Safran’s state-of-the-art MRO facility will help position India as a global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub.

The Prime Minister said the new facility would create “new opportunities for youth in the high-tech aerospace sector”. He recalled his meeting with the Safran Board on 24th November and expressed confidence that the company’s investment momentum in India would continue.

India Among the Fastest-Growing Aviation Markets: PM Modi

Highlighting the transformative growth in the aviation sector, the Prime Minister said India has emerged among the fastest-growing domestic aviation markets in the world and now ranks as the third-largest domestic aviation market globally. With rising aspirations and travel demand, Indian carriers have already placed orders for over 1,500 aircraft, he noted.

PM Modi underlined that while India’s aviation sector has expanded rapidly, nearly 85% of MRO work was historically outsourced, resulting in higher costs and longer turnaround times. The government is therefore focused on making India a major global MRO destination for both aviation and shipping sectors.

For the first time, a global engine OEM has set up Deep Level Engine Servicing facilities in India.

“We Are Dreaming Big, Doing Bigger and Delivering Best”

Reiterating the government’s reform-driven approach, the Prime Minister said – India today stands on the pillars of:

• Economic liberalisation

• Strengthened economic fundamentals

• Ease of doing business reforms

He pointed out that most sectors now allow 100% FDI through automatic routes, while the defence sector permits 74% FDI automatically. Reforms such as GST, faceless tax assessment, the National Single Window System, IBC, and new labour codes have improved transparency and governance.

“In India, we regard those who invest not merely as investors, but as co-creators—stakeholders in our journey towards a developed nation,” the PM said, adding that “Betting on India is the smartest business decision of this decade.”

SAESI Facility: A Major Step Towards Aatmanirbharta in Aviation

The newly inaugurated SAESI facility is Safran’s dedicated MRO centre for LEAP engines powering Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

The facility:

• Covers 45,000 sqm

• Built with an investment of ₹1,300 crore

• Designed to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually

• Will employ over 1,000 skilled Indian engineers and technicians by 2035

• Houses advanced process equipment for world-class engine maintenance

• This marks the first time a global aircraft engine OEM has established a full-scale MRO operation in India.

The facility will significantly reduce foreign exchange outflows, create high-value jobs, strengthen India’s supply chain resilience, and support the larger goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in aviation.

Government policies such as the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, MRO Guidelines 2021, and GST reforms (2024) have enabled simplified operations and cost efficiencies for MRO service providers.

Dignitaries Present

The event was attended by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, and senior leaders from Safran and GMR Group.