Air India's Gulf MRO in marketing JV for engine overhaul facility

Moving a step ahead on the engineering MRO, Air India has entered into a strategic alliance with the Sharjah-based Aerostar Asset Management for setting up a marketing joint venture for engine overhaul facility.

The alliance has created an engine MRO brand called `The A Team', which has started providing engine repair and management solutions to all airline operators of the Gulf region to begin with.

"The A Team will utilise the existing engine overhaul facilities of Air India at Mumbai and marketing set up of Aerostar in the Middle East. This alliance will sell repair services for jet engines such as GE CF6-50 & 80 series, P & W 4000 series, GE - 90 series and CFM 56-7 series and will also cover CFM 56-5 series engine in the near future," The airline said in a release.

Besides the MRO, Air India is also banking on its air transportation, cargo and ground handling operations for revenue generation. The airline has created the necessary infrastructure and manpower to stand up to the challenges in the aviation industry.

However, Air India will have to sustain efforts to control costs and enhance revenues in 2020 in order to achieve a financial turnaround.