Top aviation firms to generate 6 Lakh jobs in India

As top aviation companies such as Boeing and Airbus intensify efforts to leverage India as their maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub, it can create a large number of jobs for skilled professionals in the country over next 10 years. With the current fleet size expected to reach 612 planes by 2015 from around 391 currently, these MROs may create 6,00,000 jobs within the next 10 years.

Plane servicing costs in India are around $30-35 per man-hour in India, almost half of around $60 in other locations, attracting more firms to expand and establish their MRO centres in the country. Boeing, Airbus, Malaysian Airlines, Lufthansa Technik, SR Technics, Singapore Airlines and Timco are among companies which have either set up an MRO of their own, or are in the process of identifying a local partner for the same. Bombardier, Embraer, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are also exploring MRO opportunities in the country.

The Indian commercial aviation MRO alone is expected to reach $1.06 billion by 2015 and the maintenance cycle and MRO service requirements in India are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5 percent between 2009 and 2015, according to Frost and Sullivan.mo

MRO would create nearly 200-250 jobs from the date of operations of the facility. This would gradually ramp-up to anywhere between 500-600 jobs. State governments are also gearing up for the MRO opportunity by establishing dedicated zones.