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Over half of India’s 800 aircraft plus airline fleet is less than five years old; planes older than 15 years account for 13 per cent of the total, civil aviation ministry informed Rajya Sabha on Monday.
A young fleet helps an airline to lower its emissions, reduce its maintenance costs besides providing better service.
IndiGo, which is the largest airline in the country, has the highest number of planes less than five years old. Around 70 per cent of its 403 aircraft strong fleet is less than five years in age. The ministry reply indicates it has 84 aircraft on ground due to engine and other issues.
IndiGo did not respond to a query on Monday. In January IndiGo had said number of grounded planes are about 60 in number and these would reduce to about 40 from start of new fiscal year.
According to the civil aviation ministry’s response there are 813 aircraft in fleet of scheduled airlines. Out of these, 680 planes are operational and 133 are grounded, the ministry said.
The figures do not include wet-leased aircraft (those operated by foreign pilots and crew).
What data show
The data show 435 of the 813 planes are aged between 0-5 years, 185 planes are between 5-10 years, 88 planes are in 10-15 year bracket and 105 are over 15 years.
While SpiceJet has no aircraft under five years, Air India and Air India Express have highest number of planes above 15 years – 43 and 37 respectively.
The DGCA has not prescribed guidelines specifying life for an aircraft to fly in India. Aircraft are considered airworthy provided the maintenance is as per approved schedule laid down by the manufacturer,” minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said.
“Aircraft registered in India may operate as long as type certificate is valid to the type of the aircraft and the aircraft is under production or maintenance support is provided by manufacturer for continuous operation,” Mohol said.
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