India’s Civil Aviation Minister, K Ram Mohan Naidu, revealed on Sunday that the country’s aviation industry is grappling with significant delays in aircraft procurement. Although there are currently 1,700 new planes on order, supply chain issues could delay deliveries by as much as 15 years.
During the launch of new flights at Bhavnagar airport, Naidu highlighted the government’s commitment to boosting domestic aircraft manufacturing. He pointed out that collaborations with major global manufacturers like Embraer are underway. Moreover, a partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) aims to produce the Sukhoi Superjet 100.
The minister expressed concern about the bottlenecks affecting aircraft availability post-COVID-19. “After COVID-19, there were many difficulties in aircraft manufacturing,” he said. “The speed and scale at which aircraft were supposed to be built have decreased.” As disruptions continue to plague supply chains, fulfilling airlines’ demands for connectivity has become increasingly challenging.
Naidu remains optimistic about the future: “When these aircraft start arriving, it will become easier for the airlines to fulfill new aspirations and demands for connectivity.” The government is actively working on expediting both aircraft imports and domestic production to address this pressing issue.