Nearly 100 planes of Indian airlines are currently grounded, primarily owing to want of spares and service by engine suppliers, at a time when the companies are gearing up to meet the surge in demand during the final weeks of the year.
In a reply to a question tabled in the Lok Sabha, civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said: “Even though as on date planes are grounded, the total operating fleet has increased from 622 in November 2022 to 643 in November 2023.”
As per the ministry, the fleet size of the number of licensed scheduled domestic airlines currently operating in the country is 741. This includes the fleet of 54 planes of the grounded low-cost carrier Go First.
The number of operational planes will go down following the guidance issued by market leader IndiGo, which warns about more grounding of its aircraft in the January-March quarter due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues. Around 40-50 of its planes are already grounded.
“DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has taken up the matter with Pratt & Whitney for making overhauled engines available to the Indian operators and advised the manufacturer to enhance their maintenance capability. DGCA is continuously following up the matter with the engine manufacturer,” Scindia said in reply to another question.
Several parliamentarians in the current session of the House raised concerns regarding the surge in airfares seen in recent months. The aviation ministry clarified that since airfares are not regulated by the government, airlines are free to set them.
However, it was acknowledged that besides the general demand, the jump in airfares is also to be attributed to the availability of aircraft in the market. “The ministry had consultations with airlines and the representatives were advised to self-regulate and keep passengers’ interest in mind while fixing the airfares,” Scindia added in his reply.
According to market intelligence provider CAPA India, India would see around 155 million passengers in FY24, or 15% higher than last year. CAPA India’s estimates of the number of aircraft of Indian carriers is far higher than the estimate provided by the ministry of civil aviation.
“As of now, Indian carriers have around 150+ aircraft on the ground. This could cross 200 aircraft by the end of FY24,” CAPA India said in its mid-year guidance for India.
While the average passenger load factor (seat occupancy per aircraft) was seen at 87% in the first half (April-September), it is expected to be 85% in the second half — up from 80% predicted earlier, because planned capacity inductions have not materialised to the level expected, CAPA India added.