Air India Predicts Aircraft Shortage to Persist for 4-5 Years Amid Supply Chain Challenges
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has warned that the airline will continue to face aircraft shortages for another four to five years due to global supply chain disruptions affecting top jet manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has warned that the airline will continue to face aircraft shortages for another four to five years due to global supply chain disruptions affecting top jet manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.
Speaking at an event organized by travel news website Skift, Wilson highlighted the major supply constraints, including a lack of narrowbody jet engines, business and first-class seats, and key aircraft fuselage components. These shortages have been exacerbated by production snags at Boeing and Airbus, limiting aircraft deliveries worldwide.
Boeing, in particular, has struggled to ramp up production due to regulatory caps imposed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the impact of a near two-month-long worker strike. The US-based aircraft manufacturer has been unable to produce more than 38 Boeing 737 MAX planes per month, further straining global airline fleets.
Impact on Air India’s Expansion Plans
Air India, which ordered 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing—including 190 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and 10 of the much-delayed Boeing 777X—has been significantly affected by these supply challenges. The delays have forced the airline to continue operating older aircraft longer than planned, leading to rising maintenance costs and slowing down its fleet modernization and expansion efforts.
Wilson admitted that these issues limit the airline’s ability to expand to new destinations as planned. “There is not a lot we can do. We are victims of circumstance, as is every other airline,” he said.
Additionally, fierce competition among airlines to lease aircraft has made securing leased planes increasingly difficult, further complicating Air India’s strategy.
Tata Group’s Turnaround Plans Face Hurdles
These supply chain constraints come at a crucial time for Air India, which is undergoing an ambitious transformation under the Tata Group’s ownership. Since the group took control of the airline two years ago, it has been working to modernize operations and improve its global standing. However, jet delivery delays continue to pose a major challenge to these efforts.
Sources By Agencies
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