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 aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities into cabin design, certification, manufacturing and installation.
The proposed centre will work on aircraft cabin interiors across the full project cycle, including design, modification, certification, repair, retrofitting, refurbishment, manufacturing and installation. According to a note on the partnership, the facility is intended to serve airlines and aircraft operators in India and international markets.
The collaboration will combine UUDS Aero’s expertise in cabin interior design, engineering, certification and production with GMR Aero Technic’s existing MRO infrastructure and operational capabilities. The companies said the arrangement is aimed at creating integrated cabin interior solutions rather than limiting the partnership to maintenance or repair services.
UUDS Aero holds European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 21J Design Organisation Approval and Part 21G Production Organisation Approval. These approvals cover aircraft design and production activities respectively, according to the information provided by the companies. Their inclusion in the partnership gives the proposed centre access to established design and production capabilities for aviation cabin work.
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 companies aimed to deliver integrated cabin solutions to customers in India and international markets.
Ashane Gunaratne, group chief technology officer and managing director – Middle East at UUDS Aero, described the agreement as part of the French company’s long-term commitment to the Indian aviation market. He said the partnership would bring together technical strengths in cabin design, engineering, certification, manufacturing and MRO, with the stated objective of developing end-to-end cabin solutions and advancing technical capabilities.
The agreement places Hyderabad’s existing aviation maintenance infrastructure at the centre of a broader cabin-interiors business. While the companies have not provided details of the proposed centre’s investment, employment potential, commissioning schedule or expected capacity, the scope announced covers activities that are typically spread across design, regulatory approval, production and aircraft maintenance operations.
For the city, the development is tied to the institutional depth of its aviation ecosystem rather than only to the creation of a new facility. A centre combining design, certification, manufacturing and MRO would require coordination between an aviation service provider and an internationally approved design and production organisation. The companies have not yet announced further implementation milestones beyond the signing of the MoU.
The next stage will depend on how the two organisations translate the agreement into an operational centre, including the final scope of services, approvals, investment and timeline. No details on those milestones were included in the announcement.
