Air India is to consolidate its engineering functions in a new ‘mega-warehouse’ located at its cargo complex at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

The 54,000 square foot facility will centralise operations currently located in 16 locations and provide storage capacity for one million aircraft parts.

The carrier said the new warehouse will streamline maintenance and engineering support and “further enhance its fleet and operational efficiency” and “strengthen its expanding aviation ecosystem”.

The warehouse will be located close to the airport’s Terminal 3 at the Air Cargo Logistics division. It is expected to significantly improve quick turnaround of the airline’s flights operating out of Delhi.

Campbell Wilson, chief executive and managing director of Air India, said: “The warehouse is a major milestone for Air India and a reinforcement of the quality, professionalism, and investment that we are now committed to make.

“This world class facility will not only boost Air India’s fleet and operational efficiency but will also strengthen India’s aviation ecosystem.

“The warehouse will offer us more proximate access to and better control over our aircraft spares enabling us to meet any engineering requirement promptly – leading to improved punctuality of flights.”

Air India described the facility as a “first-of-its-kind facility for any airline in India” and a “cornerstone of Air India’s engineering function, offering a one-stop solution for storing aircraft spares, tools and ground support equipment ranging from hardware to sophisticated and complex avionics, hydraulics, structural, pneumatic, and mechanical components”.

The warehouse will service the Air India, Air India Express and AIX Connect fleets and will function as a hub and feeder network for operations throughout India.

The airline said: “This will streamline the airline functions and ensure better control over inventory. Located close to Air India’s aircraft hangars at Terminal 3 of IGI airport, the warehouse will facilitate swift material movement of spares to address technical issues.

“The new integrated facility will boost the airline engineering warehouse infrastructure in the country, as Air India continues its transformation to a worldclass airline.”