AI aircraft grounded for lack of spares: ICPA

Lack of spares have grounded at least a dozen A-321 aircraft of Air India, "workhorse of the domestic network operating on high-density routes", the national carrier's pilots association has claimed.

Calling it a "criminal waste", the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) shot off a letter to Air India Chairman and Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola, saying 12 of the 20 A-321 planes are grounded. "40% of the A321 fleet is grounded at various stations for lack of spares," it said.

"Overall, almost 23% of the Air India fleet is grounded for lack of spares. Aircraft worth USD 3.6 billion are lying idle in the hangar," it said in the letter while adding, "considering the high seating capacity, there is a significant loss of revenue happening on a daily basis."

It said, "such a high percentage of this aircraft type being grounded is criminal at the very least." Of the 22 A-319 aircraft, only 18 are available for operation, it said adding seven Boeing aircraft also not operating. "Of the 15 Boeing 777-300 aircraft, five aircraft are in the hangar. Of the 26 Boeing-787 aircraft, two are grounded," it said.

"Additionally, a significant number of flights are getting cancelled/rescheduled on a daily basis. There are also aircraft fleet swaps which result in last minute change of inventory resulting in non-optimal revenue management and utilisation," the ICPA said.