GMR Aero Technic and UUDS Aero are planning to establish an Integrated Cabin Excellence Centre in Hyderabad, combining cabin design, certification and production expertise with aircraft modification and installation capabilities to support the evolving requirements of commercial aircraft interiors.
The proposed centre will bring together capabilities across the cabin interior lifecycle, from initial design and engineering to certification, manufacturing, refurbishment and installation. The initiative is intended to provide airlines and aircraft operators with a more integrated route for cabin upgrades, reconfiguration and interior renewal.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), France-based UUDS Aero will contribute its expertise in cabin design, engineering, certification and production, while GMR Aero Technic will provide its existing aircraft maintenance infrastructure and operational capabilities.
A key element of the collaboration is the integration of design and production approvals with aircraft-level implementation. UUDS Aero holds EASA Part 21J Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and Part 21G Production Organisation Approval (POA), supporting its role in cabin design, engineering and manufacturing. Combined with GMR Aero Technic’s MRO capabilities, these approvals provide a foundation for developing cabin solutions that can progress from engineering and certification into physical modification and installation.
For aircraft operators, this integrated approach could help coordinate cabin projects that involve changes to interior layouts, equipment, materials and finishes. Such programmes require more than design development alone: proposed modifications must meet applicable airworthiness requirements, manufactured parts must conform to approved designs, and installation work must be coordinated with aircraft maintenance and return-to-service processes.
Ashok Gopinath, President and Accountable Manager at GMR Aero Technic, said, “By combining UUDS Aero’s design and certification expertise with GMR Aero Technic’s proven MRO capabilities, we aim to deliver high-quality, integrated cabin solutions to customers across India and international markets.”
Ashane Gunaratne, Group Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director – Middle East at UUDS Aero, said the partnership reflects the company’s long-term commitment to the Indian aviation market. He highlighted the complementary strengths of both organisations in cabin design, engineering, certification, manufacturing and MRO, with the aim of developing end-to-end solutions and advancing technical capabilities.
The planned centre will focus on cabin modification, retrofit, repair, refurbishment, manufacturing and installation. These services address a broad range of operator requirements, including refreshing ageing interiors, introducing updated cabin equipment and adapting aircraft interiors to changing passenger expectations and operational needs.
For the cabin interiors sector, the proposed Hyderabad facility represents an effort to bring engineering, certification and implementation capabilities closer together. Its development could create a more integrated support model for cabin projects in India and international markets, although the partners have not yet detailed the centre’s planned capacity, investment or operational timeline.
