Government Initiatives Aim to Overcome Aviation Supply Bottleneck

India Aviation Sector Faces Aircraft Supply Bottleneck as Delivery Delays Stretch Up to 15 Years​

1,700 Aircraft Orders Pending Amid Global Supply Chain Disruptions​

India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector is facing a significant hurdle in the procurement of new aircraft, with deliveries expected to be delayed by as much as 15 years due to ongoing global supply chain disruptions, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on March 30.

Speaking at Bhavnagar airport in Gujarat, the minister highlighted that nearly 1,700 aircraft orders placed by Indian airlines are currently pending, even as demand for air travel continues to rise across the country.

Aircraft Shortage Emerges as Key Constraint Post COVID-19​

Naidu pointed out that while airport infrastructure development has accelerated, aircraft availability has become the primary bottleneck since the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that global aircraft manufacturing has slowed significantly due to supply chain issues, impacting both the speed and scale of production.

"After COVID-19, there were many difficulties in aircraft manufacturing. There was disruption in the supply chain, which reduced the pace at which aircraft were expected to be built," the minister said.

Government Pushes Domestic Aircraft Manufacturing​

To address the supply constraints, the government is prioritizing domestic aircraft manufacturing through partnerships with global aviation companies under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

Naidu said India has tied up with Embraer for local aircraft manufacturing, and a joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is already in place to produce the Sukhoi Superjet 100 within the country.

These efforts are aimed at reducing dependency on global supply chains and improving aircraft availability in the long term.

Rising Demand to Drive Need for 30,000 Pilots​

The minister noted that Indian carriers have placed large orders in anticipation of growing passenger demand and expanding connectivity.

He added that approximately 30,000 pilots will be required in the coming years to operate the incoming fleet once deliveries begin.

"When these aircraft start arriving, it will become easier for airlines to meet rising connectivity demands," he said.

Expansion of Airports Continues Across India​

Naidu reiterated that airport infrastructure growth remains strong, stating that the number of airports, aircraft, and passengers in India has doubled since 2014.

He noted that the 165th airport in the country was recently inaugurated in Jewar, Noida.

Looking ahead, the government plans to develop 50 new airports over the next five years and expand the total number to over 350 airports by 2047.

Bhavnagar Airport Expansion Hinges on Land Availability​

Addressing local infrastructure, the minister said Bhavnagar airport requires expansion to handle larger aircraft.

The current runway length of 1,900 metres needs to be extended to 2,400 metres, for which around 200 acres of land will be required.

He added that the central government is ready to undertake the expansion once the state government provides the necessary land.

New Connectivity and Airport Facilities Announced​

During the visit, Naidu inaugurated a new IndiGo flight connecting Bhavnagar with Navi Mumbai.

He also launched the Udan Yatri Cafe at Rajkot airport and virtually inaugurated facilities across 57 other airports.

The Rajkot airport is set to receive an air cargo terminal soon, along with international flight connectivity.

Ahmedabad Plane Crash Report to Be Released Soon​

Naidu confirmed that the inquiry report into last year’s Ahmedabad plane crash will be released shortly.

The Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 en route to London Gatwick, had crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard and 19 individuals on the ground.