Where are India's Grounded Airplanes Parked amidst the Pandemic?

India's aviation industry is reeling under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. With over 650 planes grounded, the question arises: where are these airplanes parked, and what does this mean for the industry?

Impact on the Indian Aviation Industry

The aviation sector in India has faced a significant downturn due to the coronavirus outbreak. Airlines have had to ground a significant number of their planes, with Air India being one of the hardest hit. As of now, Air India has around 20 of its aircraft grounded. This number is confirmed in its Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) for its privatization process. Similarly, SpiceJet has all its B737 MAX8 aircraft grounded since last year and has all its B737-900 aircraft stored or re-delivered.

The Current Situation of Aircraft Parking

Delhi, the nation's capital, has a staggering one-third of India's commercial fleet parked. According to a NetworkThoughts analysis aided by FlightRadar24, 205 aircraft across various airlines are parked at the New Delhi airport. IndiGo, the largest domestic carrier by market share and fleet, has over 60 aircraft parked at Delhi, which constitutes one-fourth of its total fleet. Air India, the national carrier with its hub at Delhi, has nearly 50 percent of its fleet parked there.

Mumbai sees nearly 100 aircraft parked across various airlines, followed by Bengaluru, which has 71 aircraft, and Hyderabad, with 61. Kolkata and Chennai airports, under the control of the Airports Authority of India, have 54 and 53 aircraft, respectively.

Night Parking and Allocation of Slots

Night parking slots have already been allocated to the grounded planes. This highlights the importance of efficient management and allocation of parking resources to ensure minimal impact on the aviation sector during these challenging times.

The Unique Situation in India

While other countries, such as the West, had to ground their planes and park them on taxiways and runways due to a scarcity of parking space, India's infrastructure and comparatively smaller fleet allow for substantial parking space in hangars and bays. The 650 jets currently grounded in India represent a significant, but manageable, portion of the fleet. However, the financial impact remains substantial, with airlines like Air India losing around 30 to 35 crores (approximately 3.8 to 4.5 million USD) per day due to the grounded planes.

Conclusion and Moving Forward

As the world waits for a resolution to the coronavirus pandemic, the aviation sector in India continues to navigate the challenges brought about by the crisis. The efficient parking of grounded aircraft and the allocation of necessary slots demonstrate the sector’s resilience and the importance of proactive management in such unprecedented times.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation evolves. For more information and future insights into the aviation industry, follow us on social media.

Stay safe and keep learning!