Ready for takeoff: India’s aviation sector sets sights on growth despite bumpy start to 2024
- Despite challenges, some analysts view the recent issues as seasonal or isolated incidents that do not accurately reflect the overall health of the sector
- India, the world’s third-largest civil aviation market, transported over 153 million passengers last year and hopes to double that number by 2030
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on January 24 fined Air India, a former national carrier now owned by the Tata conglomerate, 10.1 million rupees (US$135,000) for safety protocol violations in relation to their long-range and critical-terrain routes.
The penalty follows similar action against major carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet last month for various offences, including pilot shortages and security violations.
A pilot from a national pilots’ association, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern about the sector’s lack of professionalism, citing systemic issues such as inadequate technological upgrades, constant pilot fatigue, and a limited understanding of safety regulations.
“Indian aviation is a ticking time bomb. We’re just inches from a major aviation disaster, given how pilots are treated and how passenger planes are operated,” said the senior pilot, who has been operating commercial flights for over 15 years.
“One doesn’t need to wait for a major incident for a wake-up call. The recent episodes highlight serious systemic problems,” he said.