New Delhi, Jan. 30 -- India hopes to leverage its tariff concessions to the European Union (EU) to press for mutual recognition of aircraft maintenance certification, an official familiar with the plan said.

The aviation ministry will nudge the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to accept certifications issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), especially for Indian maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), the official cited above said on the condition of anonymity. This would align India's aviation safety standards with the EU's, and make EASA certification process easy.

A positive response from EU will allow India's MRO facilities to supply parts to European-made planes and service them in India, a lucrative...