Aircraft supply constraints challenge India’s aviation expansion plans: Civil Aviation Minister

India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector is facing a significant challenge in the form of a global aircraft supply crunch , which has become a major bottleneck for the industry’s growth, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu has said.

Speaking at Bhavnagar in Gujarat , where he flagged off a new IndiGo flight connecting Bhavnagar with Navi Mumbai , the minister said Indian airlines have already placed orders for nearly 1,700 aircraft to meet the rising demand for air travel. However, disruptions in the global aircraft manufacturing supply chain since the COVID-19 pandemic have slowed production, meaning deliveries could take up to 15 years .

Naidu noted that while developing airport infrastructure is relatively easier once land is available, the availability of aircraft has become the real constraint . According to him, the pandemic created severe disruptions in global supply chains, affecting the pace and scale of aircraft manufacturing worldwide.

Despite these challenges, India’s aviation demand continues to grow rapidly. The minister said the country would require around 30,000 pilots in the coming years to operate the expanding fleet once the ordered aircraft begin arriving.

To address the long term supply challenge, the government is pushing for domestic aircraft manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives . India is encouraging global aircraft manufacturers to set up production through joint ventures in the country.

Naidu said the government has already partnered with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer , while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is working on producing the Sukhoi Superjet 100 in India. These initiatives aim to strengthen India’s aviation manufacturing ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign supply.

Highlighting the sector’s growth, the minister said the number of airports, aircraft and passengers has doubled since 2014 . India recently inaugurated its 165th airport at Jewar in Noida, and the government plans to build 50 more airports in the next five years, with a long term vision of over 350 airports by 2047.