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IndiGo, BIAL sign MoU for 31-acre MRO hub at Kempegowda International Airport

IndiGo, BIAL sign MoU for 31-acre MRO hub at Kempegowda International Airport

Time of India3 days ago

IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) to establish a dedicated Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) facility at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
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Under the agreement, BIAL will allocate approximately 31 acres of land to IndiGo for the development of MRO infrastructure, which will support the airline's growing fleet, ANI reported.
'Partnering with BIAL underlines our shared commitment to drive long-term growth of the aviation ecosystem in Bengaluru and cement its status as one of the best and world-class international hubs in India,' said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo.
'We see this collaboration as a pivotal step towards building a significant global presence for IndiGo, as well as for India.'
Hari Marar, MD & CEO of BIAL, welcomed the partnership, saying: 'We have had a very successful, long-term relationship with IndiGo, and this collaboration further strengthens our association with the airline. This is a strong validation of the growth potential of BLR Airport and the City of Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub.'
He added that the initiative reinforces BIAL's commitment to developing world-class aviation infrastructure and positioning Bengaluru as a leading aerospace and MRO hub in India.
In addition to the MRO facility, IndiGo and BIAL will explore collaboration in areas such as network expansion, infrastructure development, and joint marketing initiatives.
The airline, which is preparing for rapid fleet growth, expects to have over 600 aircraft by 2030.
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IndiGo has also partnered with Norse Atlantic Airways for the dry lease of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to complete by early 2026, ahead of the planned arrival of Airbus A350s in 2027.
IndiGo recently announced the launch of long-haul operations with non-stop flights from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam starting July 2025. The airline also plans to expand its long-haul network to London and Copenhagen as its fleet of damp-leased B787s grows later this year.
Domestically, the airline will add four new destinations, expanding its network from 91 to 95 locations. IndiGo is also set to become the first carrier to operate from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport in Jewar.
At a press briefing, Elbers noted that the airline's loyalty program, BlueChip, has already enrolled three million members within six months of its launch.
'The financial year 2025 has been a pivotal year in our journey as we took significant steps in our evolution into a truly global airline,' Elbers said. 'This includes the introduction of IndiGoStretch, our tailor-made business offering, and BlueChip, our loyalty program, besides sizeable network expansion in the domestic as well as international market.'

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