Lok Sabha Question No. 2247 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Fleet Integration at Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Saumitra Khan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2247

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  12th February 2026 )

## FLEET INTEGRATION AT KAZI NAZRUL ISLAM AIRPORT

2247.    SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) the number of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft inducted during the last three years  and  their  current  route  deployment,  especially  with  reference  to  Kazi  Nazrul Islam Airport, Durgapur in West Bengal;

(b) the manner in which the Government is overseeing challenges related to aircraft availability, on-time performance and route rationalisation during fleet integration at the said airport;

(c)  the  coordination mechanisms in place between the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airline operators to ensure safety compliance during expansion at the said airport; and

(d) the  expected  timelines  for  completion  of  fleet  harmonisation  and  service standardisation?

## 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. 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 the individual airline operator based on their business plan and the Ministry and DGCA does not directly interfere in this regard.

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## 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 (As on 31.01.2026) |          01 |             7 |       8 |

Note: Aircraft  induction  by  the  airline  operators  would  be  accompanied  with  redelivery/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.