New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given its in-principle approval for Air India and IndiGo to import a total of 970 aircraft, as both carriers move forward with their expansion plans.
According to Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh, Air India is set to acquire 470 aircraft from leading manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. The airline’s procurement includes 210 planes from the A320 neo family, 140 from the B737 family, and 40 from the A350 family. Additionally, Air India will purchase 50 B737-8s, 20 B787-9s, and 10 B777-9s, as part of its comprehensive fleet enhancement initiative.
On the other hand, IndiGo, another prominent player in the Indian aviation industry, is preparing to purchase 500 aircraft from the A320 neo family.
The approval for importing the aircraft comes with a focus on ensuring adequate parking slots are available at the time of granting the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the actual import of the aircraft. The induction plan for the aircraft spans from 2023 to 2035, during which the airline operators have been directed by the DGCA to collaborate with airport operators to ensure sufficient parking slots.
As of now, the current fleet size of aircraft endorsed on the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of scheduled operators in India stands at 729. However, the DGCA anticipates a significant expansion in the country’s aviation industry, projecting the total fleet size of major domestic airlines to reach approximately 1,600 within the next seven years.
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