By Aritra Banerjee
Air India Limited and Interglobe Aviation Ltd, better known as IndiGo, have been granted in-principle approval by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to import many aircraft. The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, General (Dr) V. K. Singh, who revealed that Air India could import up to 470 aircraft and IndiGo up to 500.
The specifics of the aircraft approved for import by the DGCA are diverse. Most new fleets for both airlines will come from the A320 Neo family, with 210 earmarked for Air India and all 500 for IndiGo. Air India is also set to add 140 from the B737 family, 40 A350 family models, and a selection of B777-9s, B787-9s, and B737-8s to its roster.
The exact financial terms of these large-scale purchases remain undisclosed, as they fall under the commercial agreements between the airlines and the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
According to the airlines’ induction plans, importing these aircraft is set to occur progressively over the next twelve years, from 2023 to 2035. To ensure the availability of parking slots, the DGCA has advised both operators to liaise with airport authorities.
This expansion of the airlines’ fleets signifies a considerable vote of confidence in India’s aviation industry and a strong commitment to meet the rising demand for air travel.