37% of Air India’s Fleet Is Over A Decade Old; Crashed Dreamliner Was 11 Years Old

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 14:22 IST

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not prescribed guidelines specifying a lifespan for an aircraft to fly in India

Remains of the Air India plane that crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on June 12. (Image: PTI)

Nearly 30% of the aircraft operating for passenger travel in India belong to Air India, but the operator also employs the oldest fleet, with 70 of its aircraft being over a decade old, government data shows. The Ahmedabad crash has brought Air India into focus.

Of the 188 aircraft that Air India had operational before the Ahmedabad crash, 43 are more than 15 years old, while 27 others are aged between 10 and 15 years, according to government data presented to Parliament this March. A total of 59 Air India aircraft are aged between 5 and 10 years, while 69 are less than five years old. This means 37% of Air India’s fleet is over 10 years old.

The ill-fated Air India aircraft that crashed on Thursday, killing all on board except one lucky survivor, was 11 years old.

The government told Parliament in March that IndiGo operated the most aircraft at 319, while Air India Express Ltd operated 101. IndiGo, however, has a much younger fleet than Air India, as 283 of its aircraft are less than 5 years old, while only 23 aircraft are over a decade old. A total of 97 aircraft with IndiGo are aged between 5 and 10 years.

Air India placed orders for 405 new aircraft in 2023-24 – 305 in 2023 and 100 in 2024. These orders are part of 1,359 total new aircraft orders by various Indian airlines since 2022.

“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not prescribed guidelines specifying a lifespan for an aircraft to fly in India. Aircraft are considered airworthy provided the maintenance is as per the approved schedule laid down by the manufacturer. Aircraft registered in India may operate as long as the type certificate is valid for the type of aircraft and the aircraft is under production/maintenance support provided by the manufacturer for continuous operation," the government said in its parliamentary reply.

The aircraft may be withdrawn from operation by an operator if it becomes ‘beyond economic repair’ or is ‘permanently withdrawn from use’ for any reason, such as spares not being available, the government added.

Aman Sharma

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office....Read More

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office....

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