In order to maintain the health of its growing fleet, Air India is mulling a plan to establish four MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) bases, including two joint ventures with aircraft makers.

While it has already signed agreements with aircraft majors Boeing and Airbus for setting up MROs at Nagpur and Delhi, the national carrier now sees the need for two more MROs for engine and components.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of Infocom 2007, Air India chairman and managing director V Thulasidas said the company was expected to invite expression of interest for joint ventures to establish engine and component MROs. ?We (Air India) will be calling for tenders shortly,? he said.

Thulasidas further revealed that the airline was contemplating extending its aircraft shopping spree. As per the current order schedule, the airline will receive the last aircraft in 2011 as per the current order schedule. Until now, the airline is in the process of evaluating the requirement for further expansion of its fleet, he added. The proposed expansion is expected to be bigger than the current buying schedule, he said.

On the merger, Thulasidas said the integration of both Air India and Indian Airlines up to the top management?directors and executive directors?level was over. With regard to the middle-management level?general managers and AGMs?is expected to be completed in the next six to nine months.

Earlier delivering the keynote address on the third day of Infocom 2007, Thulasidas said that the aviation sector has to balance between costs and fairs in order to sustain its growth rate between 33% and 36%.

Accordingly, it should address the internal factors like service delivery, customer satisfaction, fleet maintenance, aircraft turnaround, revenue management etc, should be improved by using the advanced technology.

Thulasidas said the present industry growth rate was sustainable for next five to 10 years considering the potential of Indian market.

However, he felt that the cyclical issue like passenger preferences, sudden calamities, war zones, terrorist threats etc would impact the international travel.