AAI expands aircraft parking bays

18 Sep 2023 CW Team

AAI plans to construct 104 parking bays at 16 airports by the end of 2023 and an additional 56 bays at 11 airports in 2024. All these bays will be suitable for Code 'C' type aircraft, ranging from ATR-72 to Airbus A321. Notably, airports with significant domestic passenger traffic such as Amritsar, Goa (Dabolim), Kolkata, and Patna will receive additional aircraft parking bays. Amritsar and Kolkata will see these additions in 2023, while Goa and Patna will get new bays in the following year.

Other airports, including Leh, Raipur, and Tirupati, will also benefit from extra parking bays. The expansion at Leh Airport is particularly valuable due to its limited operating window caused by challenging weather conditions. Additionally, this development plan includes airports in Datia and Rewa (both in Madhya Pradesh) and Solapur (Maharashtra), despite the absence of scheduled airline flights at these locations.

Ameya Joshi, founder of the aviation blog Network Thoughts, highlighted the significance of capacity additions at tier-II airports, especially for the government's regional connectivity scheme. He also suggested that along with increased parking bays, AAI should consider providing night landing and round-the-clock air traffic services at smaller airports.

Kapil Kaul, CEO (South Asia) of aviation consultancy CAPA, noted that by fiscal year 2030, the combined fleet size of Indian airlines is expected to double to 1,400 aircraft. This would require an additional 600-700 aircraft parking bays in the country. Kaul emphasised that while capacity challenges at metro airports are not anticipated until FY30, AAI should prioritize constructing parking bays at airports that align with airlines' operational and commercial requirements.

In FY23, AAI achieved its highest-ever capital expenditure of Rs 51.75 billion , which included projects to expand airport facilities, upgrade technology, and enhance operational efficiency.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is set to enhance air connectivity by adding 160 aircraft parking bays at 27 airports within the next two years. This expansion is aimed at accommodating the growing demand for air travel, particularly as domestic airlines like Air India and IndiGo have placed orders for approximately 1,500 aircraft that will be delivered over the next decade. In the fiscal year 2024, it is projected that domestic airlines will induct around 100 new aircraft.AAI plans to construct 104 parking bays at 16 airports by the end of 2023 and an additional 56 bays at 11 airports in 2024. All these bays will be suitable for Code 'C' type aircraft, ranging from ATR-72 to Airbus A321. Notably, airports with significant domestic passenger traffic such as Amritsar, Goa (Dabolim), Kolkata, and Patna will receive additional aircraft parking bays. Amritsar and Kolkata will see these additions in 2023, while Goa and Patna will get new bays in the following year.Other airports, including Leh, Raipur, and Tirupati, will also benefit from extra parking bays. The expansion at Leh Airport is particularly valuable due to its limited operating window caused by challenging weather conditions. Additionally, this development plan includes airports in Datia and Rewa (both in Madhya Pradesh) and Solapur (Maharashtra), despite the absence of scheduled airline flights at these locations.Ameya Joshi, founder of the aviation blog Network Thoughts, highlighted the significance of capacity additions at tier-II airports, especially for the government's regional connectivity scheme. He also suggested that along with increased parking bays, AAI should consider providing night landing and round-the-clock air traffic services at smaller airports.Kapil Kaul, CEO (South Asia) of aviation consultancy CAPA, noted that by fiscal year 2030, the combined fleet size of Indian airlines is expected to double to 1,400 aircraft. This would require an additional 600-700 aircraft parking bays in the country. Kaul emphasised that while capacity challenges at metro airports are not anticipated until FY30, AAI should prioritize constructing parking bays at airports that align with airlines' operational and commercial requirements.In FY23, AAI achieved its highest-ever capital expenditure of Rs 51.75 billion , which included projects to expand airport facilities, upgrade technology, and enhance operational efficiency.

Equipment

09 Jan 2026

BKT Partners All Teams in India’s Women’s T20 League

Balkrishna Industries (BKT), a global leader in the off-highway tyre market, announced its association as the Official Tyre Partner for all five teams competing in India’s premier women’s T20 championship – Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz – for the upcoming season. This move reinforces BKT’s commitment to using sport as a platform for inclusion, opportunity, and long-term development.These partnerships reflect BKT’s belief in the transformative power of sport, particularly in advancing women’s participation and creating..

Infrastructure Energy

09 Jan 2026

Rajesh Power Secures 65 MW BESS Project in Gujarat

Rajesh Power Services has recently secured a 65 MW / 130 MWh standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Gujarat, marking its entry into utility-scale energy storage. The company received a Letter of Intent from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam for the project, which will be developed at Virpore under a tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism supported by Viability Gap Funding through the Power System Development Fund.The project is expected to be executed within 18 months from the signing of the Battery Energy Storage Purchase Agreement. With the ability to supply 65 MW of power for..

Infrastructure Energy

09 Jan 2026

ONGC Forms JV with MOL for Ethane Shipping Operations

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) has recently entered the ethane shipping segment through joint venture agreements with M/s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines), Japan. The agreements involve equity participation in two joint venture entities—Bharat Ethane One IFSC Private Limited and Bharat Ethane Two IFSC Private Limited—registered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.Under the arrangement, ONGC will subscribe to 2,00,000 equity shares of Rs 100 each in both entities, resulting in a 50 per cent equity holding in each joint venture, with the remaining stake ..