GMR Aero Technic and France-based UUDS Aero have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an Integrated Cabin Excellence Centre at GMR Aero Technic’s facility in Hyderabad, expanding the city’s role in aircraft maintenance, engineering and cabin-related aviation services.
The proposed centre will cover the design, modification, certification, repair, retrofitting, refurbishment, manufacturing and installation of aircraft cabin interiors. The partners said the facility is intended to provide integrated cabin solutions for airlines and aircraft operators in India and international markets.
GMR Aero Technic is a Hyderabad-based Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider. Under the proposed collaboration, it will bring its existing MRO infrastructure and operational capabilities, while UUDS Aero will contribute expertise in cabin interior design, engineering, certification and production.
The partnership brings together capabilities that are usually distributed across different stages of an aircraft cabin project. These include designing interiors, securing the necessary approvals, producing components, repairing or refurbishing existing cabin systems and installing completed interiors. The companies said the integrated model would cater to the requirements of airlines and aircraft operators.
UUDS Aero holds European Union Aviation Safety Agency Part 21J Design Organisation Approval and Part 21G Production Organisation Approval. The two approvals cover aircraft design and production activities respectively, according to the announcement. Their inclusion in the partnership is significant to the proposed centre’s stated focus on certified design and production, although the companies have not disclosed a construction schedule, investment amount or expected capacity for the facility.
Ashok Gopinath, president and accountable manager at GMR Aero Technic, said the partnership would combine UUDS Aero’s design and certification expertise with GMR Aero Technic’s MRO capabilities. He said the objective was to deliver integrated cabin solutions to customers in India and international markets.
Ashane Gunaratne, group chief technology officer and managing director for the Middle East at UUDS Aero, described the agreement as part of the company’s long-term commitment to the Indian aviation market. He said the two organisations would combine their technical strengths in cabin design, engineering, certification, manufacturing and MRO.
The announcement places the proposed centre within Hyderabad’s wider aviation and industrial ecosystem. Rather than limiting the facility to aircraft maintenance, the stated scope covers a full set of cabin-related activities, from design and certification to manufacturing, repair and installation. This could allow airlines and operators to access multiple services through one partnership, though the announcement does not provide details on the centre’s final operating model or the customers it expects to serve.
The MoU is an agreement to work towards establishing the centre; it does not disclose a commissioning date or confirm that construction has begun. Further details on implementation, investment, staffing and operational timelines will determine how the proposed facility develops at GMR Aero Technic’s Hyderabad site.
