Long-term solutions are needed to address supply chain issues in aviation, says Jaideep Mirchandani

 

As the CAPA India report indicates the grounding of more than 200 flights by March 2024, Jaideep Mirchandani, the Chairman of Sky One, emphasizes the need to upgrade MRO facilities

Amidst the optimistic outlook for India's potential advancements in the civil aviation sector, experts have raised concerns about key insights from the aviation consultancy firm CAPA India. The Capital & Transaction Advisor, in its mid-year outlook published last month, hints at probable supply chain issues in 2024. It has stated that over 150 aircrafts belonging to various Indian airlines are already grounded, and this number could increase to 200 by March 2024. It also warns that this situation is expected to result in constrained capacity, leading to more flight cancellations and delays.

According to the report, Indian carriers possess a fleet of approximately 789 aircraft. The CAPA report states that IndiGo's 45 A320Neo planes are currently grounded due to the non-availability of engines, and this number is anticipated to increase by another 30–40 as the airline plans to ground more planes in the first quarter of 2024, for inspections.

Aviation expert and chairman of the UAE-based aviation conglomerate Sky One, Jaideep Mirchandani stated, "To address the supply chain challenges, one of the viable options is wet leasing and I expect that by March 2024, there will be a significant increase in number of wet-leased aircraft operated by India's air carriers.”

He added that, if more flights are grounded, other challenges that are likely to emerge include a shortage of parking space, affecting both hangars and operations. Another significant challenge in the global supply chain is the delay in obtaining spare parts and services from engine suppliers. "It is a challenge faced by airlines worldwide. However, as CAPA India suggested in its report, Indian carriers are more vulnerable to this issue because they have a high proportion of narrow body planes in their fleet, which are more prone be affected by engine issues,"

Mirchandani believes that airlines should focus on an effective long-term solution and added that, "Investing more in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, both within India and globally, is the next logical step,  We have also seen that leading airlines in India are placing substantial orders for fleet expansion. It is essential to examine the speed of these deliveries. This fleet expansion is crucial to meet the surging demand along with necessary upgrades to MRO facilities,' concludes Mr. Mirchandani.