India’s airlines are facing a “crisis” that could result in a quarter of the sector’s fleet grounded by March next year because of supply chain problems delaying replacement plane engines, according to analysts.
It is a critical time for the industry, as the country’s airlines focus on increasing profitability and capitalising on rising travel demand as the sector continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
“India’s fragile aviation ecosystem can’t afford for the supply chain issues to be more severe,” says Kapil Kaul, chief executive and director of aviation consultancy Capa India.
“That could see the situation evolve from an airline risk to an industry risk.”
By March 31, Capa forecasts that up to 200 aircraft will be grounded in India, from more than 160 planes now.
This is expected to result in constrained capacity, leading to more flight cancellations and delays and a “crisis situation”, Mr Kaul says.
The issue comes as India’s aviation sector, like those of…
