KOCHI: The Cochin international airport is raring to have a new profile soon by sporting a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility which will be built in association with a Bengaluru based agency Airworks. It will enable repair works of aircrafts in Kochi. The facility which can catapult the airport into a hub for many airlines soon is set to be operational in three months.
Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the company that operates the airport will offer two hangars it currently has at the airport for the aircraft repair facility. Airworks will give a specified amount as royalty to CIAL. “Once the facility becomes operational, major airlines can make Cochin airport their hub which will enhance the stature of the airport. Airlines need not take their aircraft to other destinations for repairs which will reduce their cost in this regard also,” said an aviation sector official.
CIAL which has entered into an MoU with Airworks in this regard has entrusted its subsidiary Cochin International Aviation Services Limited (CIASL) to oversee the setting up and functioning of the MRO facility. The two hangars have 70,000 sq ft area each while the parking bay is having an area of 3.5 lakh sq ft. So far only line maintenance was happening at CIAL. In view of the successful recovery of the Air India Express aircraft which slipped into a storm drain at the airport in September last, CIAL had decided to offer its state-of-the art aircraft recovery service to other airports and airlines which do not have it. CIAL stepped on the gas on having an own MRO after this. It is learnt that an MoU for five years has been entered into by CIAL with Airworks which has been in the field of repairs for long. The airlines that have entered into Airworks for MRO will also undertake their repair in Kochi.
