Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is considering implementing higher charges for airlines with grounded aircraft as part of efforts to manage parking space efficiently and mitigate disruptions to overall airport operations. The move comes in response to a growing number of planes being grounded due to technical and other issues.
DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar explained that the proposal for elevated charges for extended grounding periods would be part of the next traffic review, scheduled for early next year.
“We are planning that in the next traffic calculation, we are going to request that for people who are grounding (aircraft) here for more than a certain period, there should be some sort of higher charges because otherwise it disturbs the operations of other airlines,” Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar told PTI in an interview.
How many planes are grounded?
Currently, 64 aircraft from various airlines are grounded at the airport, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, Go First, Zoom Air, and Jet Airways.
As many as 24 aircraft of IndiGo, 6 of SpiceJet, 2 of Air India and 1 of Alliance Air were on the ground, the spokesperson said, adding that 23 planes of Go First, 5 of Zoom Air and 3 of Jet Airways also remained grounded at the airport. It may be noted that Go First, Zoom Air and Jet Airways are currently non-operational airlines.
The official highlighted that various reasons were behind the grounding of these aircraft, including technical issues and some airlines going into insolvency proceedings.
What is the way ahead?
The plan aims to optimize the use of parking stands, as the airport currently has 295 parking spaces for aircraft, with the goal of ensuring operational efficiency once these grounded aircraft are back in service.
“We have the maximum number of parking stands for aircraft. Unfortunately, a lot of that is being used by grounded aircraft… Once these aircraft are off the ground, then we can be comparable to any of the biggest airports in the world in terms of the number of parking stands,” Jaipuriar said.
The aviation consultancy CAPA India projects the total number of grounded aircraft in India to reach 196-201 by the end of March 31, 2024, with potential implications for parking space utilization at major airports.
DIAL handles 1,300 to 1,500 flight daily
The Delhi airport, the largest in the country, encompasses three terminals—T1, T2, and T3. The decision to introduce a T4 will be contingent on traffic patterns, and currently, only T3 facilitates international operations. With a daily handling capacity of 1,300 to 1,500 flight movements, the airport is poised for continued expansion.
The ongoing expansion of T1 is anticipated to conclude by the end of February next year, and plans are underway to temporarily convert T2 into an international terminal. Currently designated for domestic flights, T2’s transformation aligns with the airport’s strategic objectives. Anticipating a passenger traffic volume exceeding 70 million by the conclusion of the current fiscal year in March 2024, the airport remains committed to enhancing its infrastructure and operational capabilities.