Indian airlines to face capacity shortage in peak travel season
New Delhi: Indian airlines face a potential capacity shortage during the peak December quarter travel season, as aircraft induction plans of major carriers are progressing at a sluggish pace, according to data from aircraft tracking site Flightradar24 . Since the suspension of low-cost carrier Go First, domestic airlines’ fleet size has risen by just 0.9% to around 680. Only three major scheduled carriers, including market leader IndiGo, Tata Group’s Air India and startup carrier Akasa Air have added airplanes to their fleet since May.
IndiGo’s fleet witnessed 3% increase to 312 aircraft, while Air India’s net fleet size rose by 5% to 124 aircraft. However, out of Indigo’s 312 aircraft, 47 are currently grounded due to maintenance work, and shortage of spare engines and parts, Flightradar24 data showed. Indian airlines are trying to minimize the impact of supply chain disruptions plaguing the original equipment manufacturers of aircraft.
IndiGo, for example, has reinducted older aircraft on lease in order to tide over the delays in new aircraft delivery, said Pushan Sharma, director, research, Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics. In 2022, Air India had said that it would induct 36 aircraft on lease, including 21 Airbus A320neos, 4 Airbus A321neos and 5 Boeing B777-200LRs, and 6 Boeing 777s beginning 2023, to expand its operations. However, so far, the airline has inducted four Boeing 777-LRs and two A321neo planes, following a delay in deliveries.
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