Domestic carriers have nearly 100 planes grounded ahead of New Year

NEARLY 100 PLANES of Indian air-lines 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.

- SWARAJ BAGGONKAR

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 has warned 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.