Air Works entering aircraft engine maintenance (MRO) segment

Indian maintenance, repair and overhaul provider Air Works has invested INR 120 crore in Dubai-based business aviation services company Empire Aviation Group (EAG). This investment is part of a wider strategy by the two companies to expand their footprints with each other's lucrative home markets.

Set up in Dubai in 2007, Empire Aviation offers sales, management, charter, finance and insurance of aircraft. EAG co-founder and executive director Steve Hartley says: “This partnership will help EAG to broaden our business base and service offering in the Middle East and India and beyond. The timing is absolutely right as the global aviation sector recovers and this move will help accelerate EAG's growth and development as a regional and international player in private aviation”.

Air Works, which is qualified to maintain 50 aircraft types, offers services to commercial and private planes. In February 2010, it had acquired 85% stake for INR 70 crore in Air Livery UK Plc to be able to offer aircraft painting, refurbishing and refinishing.

“The only missing link is aircraft engine MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul). Our next target would be that”, says Air Works managing director Vivek Gour. “The aim is to make Air Works an end-to-end aircraft solutions company”, he added.