Skill shortage in focus as Wings India builds MRO ambitions

Wings India 2026 highlights India's MRO ambitions, addressing skill shortages and infrastructure gaps amid rapid aviation fleet growth.

As India’s aviation fleet continues its rapid expansion, industry leaders, government officials, airlines, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) operators gathered at Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad to outline a roadmap for transforming the country into a globally credible Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul hub.

At a panel discussion titled ‘Local Capability for Global Credibility: Elevating Indian MRO through Scale, Standards and Solutions’ held on Thursday, January 29, speakers agreed that while India has scale and strong growth momentum, global competitiveness will ultimately hinge on international certification, infrastructure development, skilled manpower and the adoption of advanced technology.

Setting the tone for the session, Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, described MRO as central to India’s aviation transformation and cautioned that scale alone would not guarantee global trust. Although the number of MROs in the country is expected to reach 200, he noted that only a small proportion currently hold international certifications such as EASA or FAA approvals, which are critical for securing global contracts.

Highlighting policy support extended to the sector in recent years, Sinha pointed to rationalised customs duties and GST on MRO services, a uniform 5% IGST on imported parts, 100% FDI under the automatic route, long-term land leases at airports and the removal of royalty charges. 

Despite progress, infrastructure gaps remain. Sharad Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), said that while India is regionally recognised for narrowbody aircraft painting, it currently lacks a comprehensive widebody painting facility, compelling airlines to send aircraft overseas for such work. He also highlighted the shortage of widebody hangars at key hubs such as Delhi, forcing aircraft to be ferried to Nagpur or Mumbai for heavy maintenance checks.

Ashok Gopinath, President of GMR Aero Technic, said engine overhaul capacity in India is expanding, but warned that skill availability and retention continue to pose major challenges. Talent migration to established global hubs remains a concern.