Low-cost carrier Air Deccan launched its first fully owned hangar for the maintenance and repair of its fleet at Chennai airport. The Rs 111.5 million hangar stretches over 6,503 sq metres, large enough to hold one Airbus aircraft or two ATR propeller aircraft.
"The Deccan-Kingfisher combine is aggressively building up its infrastructure to ensure better maintenance of its fleet. The hangar facility in Chennai will strengthen our engineering competence and is consistent with expansion plans of the airlines," said GR Gopinath, the airline's executive chairman.
The Chennai hangar, which is 46 metres wide, 54 metres deep and 17 metres high, has a 3,251 sq metres office space and training facility, in addition to the engineering space.
The hangar will be used to provide basic and medium-level maintenance checks and protective storage for Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines aircraft, as well as function as a repair shop and assembly area.
It is expected to significantly reduce aircraft downtime for both airlines.
Gopinath said the airline preferred Chennai to Mumbai and New Delhi because of congestion problems at the airports in the two metros.
K Ramalingam, chairman, Airports Authority of India, said the hangar "would pave the way" for other airlines to invest in creating maintenance hubs.
{{/usCountry}}K Ramalingam, chairman, Airports Authority of India, said the hangar "would pave the way" for other airlines to invest in creating maintenance hubs.
{{/usCountry}}