**Executive Summary**
This report addresses a parliamentary question regarding the induction of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft into the Indian aviation fleet over the last three years, up to February 5, 2026. It details the government's monitoring mechanisms for fleet expansion and safety compliance, as well as the role of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in ensuring safety standards. Fleet harmonization is a commercial decision for individual operators.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Aircraft Induction and Route Deployment:**
* The number of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft inducted into the fleet of scheduled airline operators during the last three years is attached as Annexure-l.
* The Indian aviation sector is deregulated; airlines are free to operate flights and deploy capacity based on commercial viability and market considerations.
* Aircraft induction is accompanied by the re-delivery/export of older aircraft as leases expire.
* **Government Monitoring:**
* The DGCA has a robust mechanism to monitor aircraft induction, on-time performance (OTP), and route rationalization.
* The Ministry and DGCA do not directly interfere with fleet harmonization and standardization of services as it is a commercial decision for individual airlines.
* **Safety Compliance and DGCA Oversight:**
* The DGCA ensures strict compliance with safety standards during fleet expansion.
* Expansion activities require prior DGCA approval after safety preparedness scrutiny.
* DGCA conducts audits, inspections, and surveillance covering flight operations, airworthiness, training, safety management systems (SMS), and maintenance.
* DGCA conducts meetings with airline management to review operational performance, safety indicators, manpower adequacy, and compliance.
* The DGCA takes corrective and enforcement action, including issuing show cause notices, operational restrictions, suspension of approvals, and financial penalties for deficiencies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Airlines**
* **Impact:** Airlines are subject to DGCA oversight and must comply with safety standards during fleet expansion. Airlines must ensure safety preparedness for expansion activities.
* **Action Required:** Airlines must adhere to DGCA regulations, undergo safety scrutiny for fleet expansion, and comply with all directives. They also decide on fleet harmonisation.
**Stakeholder: DGCA**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing a multi-layered oversight mechanism to ensure safety standards and monitoring of airlines.
* **Action Required:** Continuously monitor airline operations, conduct audits and inspections, and take corrective/enforcement actions as needed.
**Stakeholder: Passengers**
* **Impact:** The monitoring of airline safety helps passengers.
* **Action Required:** None.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulator responsible for ensuring compliance with safety standards during fleet expansion.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The ministry to which the question on aircraft induction is addressed.
Air Corporations Act: The act that was repealed, leading to deregulation of the Indian aviation sector.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 933
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
INDUCTION OF WIDE-BODY AND NARROW-BODY AIRCRAFT
933. SMT VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI
SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALA
SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA
SHRI ANANTA NAYAK
SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA
SHRI TEJASVI SURYA
SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE
DR. HEMANG JOSHI
SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT
SHRI GODAM NAGESH
SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI
SMT D K ARUNA
SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft inducted into the fleet during the
last three years and the routes on which they are presently deployed;
(b) the manner in which the Government is monitoring challenges related to aircraft
availability, on-time performance and route rationalisation during fleet expansion and
integration;
(c) the coordination mechanism between the Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) and airlines to ensure compliance with safety standards during the phase of
rapid expansion; and
(d) the expected timeline for completing the process of fleet harmonisation and
standardisation of services?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) The number of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft inducted into the fleet of
scheduled airline operators during the last three years is attached as Annexure-l. With
the repeal of the Air Corporations Act, the Indian aviation sector has been fully
deregulated, and airlines are free to operate flights and deploy capacity on routes based
on their commercial viability and market considerations.(b): The DGCA has a robust mechanism in place to monitor the induction of aircraft by
airlines, On-Time Performance (OTP) and route rationalisation.;
(c) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has put in place a multi-layered
oversight mechanism to ensure that safety standards are strictly complied with by
airlines, particularly during phases of rapid expansion in fleet size and operations. All
expansion activities, including induction of aircraft, increase in flight operations, route
expansion and wet/dry leasing, are subject to prior approval by DGCA after detailed
scrutiny of safety preparedness. DGCA conducts periodic and special audits, inspections
and surveillance activities covering flight operations, airworthiness, training, safety
management systems (SMS) and maintenance practices. DGCA conduct meetings with
airline management and key post-holders to review operational performance, safety
indicators, and manpower adequacy and compliance status. In case of deficiencies,
DGCA takes corrective and enforcement action, including issuance of show cause
notices, operational restrictions or suspension of approvals and financial penalty, as
necessary.;
(d): The process of fleet harmonisation and standardisation of services is a commercial
decision of individual airline operator based on their business plan and the Ministry and
DGCA does not directly interfere in this regard.
*****Annexure-l
Number of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft inducted
Year Wide Body Narrow Body Total
2023 8 104 112
2024 11 129 140
2025 0 95 95
2026 01 7 8
(As on
31.01.2026)
Note: Aircraft induction by the airline operators would be accompanied with re-
delivery/export of their existing aircraft in line with expiry of the lease periods. The
aircraft induction would therefore cater for increase in airline fleet as well as
replacement of existing fleet over the time.