Indian maintenance specialist GMR Aero Technic has signed a three-year logistics service contract with Kuehne+Nagel.

As a part of the deal, Kuehne+Nagel will cater to the inbound and outbound international air logistics of GMR Aero Technic, which it says will lead to reduced downtime and 24-7 AOG support.

"The Indian MRO industry is expected to grow to $4 billion by 2031 and, with more than 1,000 new aircraft orders, India is likely to become the third largest buyer of commercial passenger aircraft in the world,” explains Coen van der Maarel, managing director of Kuehne+Nagel India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

“We are delighted and look forward to adding value to their operations and meeting their international logistics requirements," adds van der Maarel. "Technological advancements and disruptions are expected to accelerate the industry's evolution, and Kuehne+Nagel will continue to be an innovative and committed business partner to GMR Aero Technic.”

Speaking about the partnership, Ashok Gopinath, CEO of Hyderabad-based GMR Aero Technic said: "They [Kuehne+Nagel] have proven to be a reliable partner of choice for aircraft maintenance logistics. Their commitment towards AOG deliverables remained unaffected even during the pandemic."

"GMR Aero Technic continues investing in upgrading and expanding their service offerings for aerospace customers, and our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel serves that priority," adds Gopinath.

Meanwhile, GMR Aero Technic is striving to upgrade its capabilities and expand its service offerings to meet the growing maintenance needs of airline operators within and outside India. Long-term, it aims be a leader in MRO in the Asia-Pacific region, the company said in a statement.

Currently, the MRO provider offers services including base maintenance, line maintenance, non-destructive testing services, composite repairs and seat retrofit and refurbishments, among others.

Last month, it was named by Spirit AeroSystems as an authorized repair center for structural components.