Honeywell, Air India ink agreement for APU aftermarket support

Honeywell, a multinational corporation, announced on Monday that it has signed a long-term agreement with Air India, a subsidiary of Tata Group, to provide Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) aftermarket support for both existing and new fleets. The partnership aims at lowering unplanned maintenance costs and enhancing aircraft availability and dispatch reliability. 

The APU, a crucial component of aircraft equipment, supplies electrical power and air conditioning while the plane is on the ground, ensuring passenger comfort and providing the necessary air source before the main engines start. APUs are among the many Honeywell technologies driving the future of aviation, aligned with global megatrends such as automation and energy transition.

"We are delighted to strengthen our collaboration with Air India and support its fleet modernization efforts," said Ashish Modi, President of Honeywell India. "This milestone in our over 30-year partnership with Air India underscores our commitment to accelerating the growth of India's aviation sector through innovative technology."

As air travel continues to grow, the demand for accessible aftermarket services rises. Under this agreement, Honeywell will deliver comprehensive APU aftermarket support to ensure the reliability and efficiency of Air India's fleet of over 300 aircraft. This includes the legacy fleet of more than 100 A320s, 15 B777s, and the new fleet of 190 B737-8 aircraft, covering Honeywell's 131-9A, 131-9B, and 331-500 series APUs. Honeywell's extensive global service network is designed to maintain optimal APU performance with minimal operational disruptions.

Sisira Kanta Dash, Chief Technical Officer of Air India, remarked, "This milestone adds to our long-standing partnership with Honeywell. This agreement is part of our global growth and transformation plans to achieve more efficient, reliable operations and maximize fleet availability through Honeywell’s advanced technology services, enabling us to meet our customers' needs."

With over seven decades of experience and more than 100,000 gas turbine APUs produced, Honeywell provides auxiliary power solutions to its clients. Honeywell's APUs are renowned for their reliability, enhancing flight safety, operational dependability, and fuel efficiency. The company also offers a comprehensive global support network with integrated service solutions tailored to the industry's evolving needs.

In April, Honeywell introduced Honeywell Forge Performance+ for Aerospace, a cloud-based platform leveraging AI and machine learning (ML). This solution aims to modernize production and reduce operational costs for commercial aerospace manufacturing and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities through digitalization.