New Delhi: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M. Scindia informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that our fleet is undergoing rapid expansion. The Indian Civil Aviation sector, which had only 400 aircraft in 2014, has now increased to nearly 644.
“The number of Aircraft on Ground roughly stands at 140 from the perspective of scheduled commercial airlines. Presently, 95% of the grounded aircraft in India are in this position due to supply chain issues faced by engine supplier Pratt and Whitney,” he said.
The Minister emphasized, “We have directly communicated with Pratt and Whitney, stressing that this situation is unacceptable given the exponential growth of air traffic in India.”
He also highlighted the continuous expansion of our fleet, rising from 626 last year to 644. “By March 2024, with the induction of approximately 2 to 5 aircraft per month, our fleet is projected to reach 686,” Scindia confirmed.
Digi Yatra Implementation at 13 Airports
Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) stated in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question on Thursday informed that the government is consistently enhancing security equipment, manpower, and deploying advanced technologies to reduce passenger time during security checks at airports.
“Digi Yatra, which facilitates a seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers through biometric-based travel using Facial Recognition Technology, has been implemented at 13 airports, with plans to cover other airports in a phased manner,” he said.