Air India to Establish Aircraft Maintenance Training Facility in Bengaluru
Air India has announced plans to set up a Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) in Bengaluru, offering a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program. The facility, spanning 86,000 square feet, is expected to begin operations by mid-2026.
The BMTO will deliver a 2+2-year AME program comprising two years of classroom-based academic coursework followed by two years of practical, on-the-job training at a nearby Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility. Air India’s new 12-bay MRO in Bengaluru, scheduled to open in early 2026, will provide the practical training component.
To develop the training facility, Air India has partnered with Bengaluru Airport City Limited (BACL), a subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited. The build-to-suit facility will include modern classrooms, laboratories, and training resources.
Until the BMTO is operational, Air India will implement a Cadet AME program in collaboration with institutions in Bengaluru and Hyderabad to meet its training and workforce requirements.
Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of Air India's Aviation Academy, stated that the BMTO aims to establish a pipeline of skilled maintenance engineers to support the airline's fleet expansion plans. The program will also offer opportunities for participants to pursue a simultaneous bachelor’s degree through university partnerships.
The training facility aligns with Air India’s broader goals under its transformation strategy, Vihaan.AI, which includes fleet expansion, retrofitting legacy aircraft, and in-housing line maintenance operations. As part of this strategy, Air India has committed to more than 500 new aircraft and a $400 million investment in aircraft interior retrofits.
This initiative complements the construction of a large-scale MRO facility in Bengaluru, furthering the airline’s focus on developing self-reliant aviation infrastructure in India.