India addresses aviation staffing shortages

Apart from the ten positions at AERA, 24 out of the 27 existing job vacancies have been filled, and the remaining three are in the process of being filled. This follows criticism aimed at the ministry and aviation regulator for the insufficient staffing levels on the ground. Indian domestic air traffic has returned to normalcy, with August marking the sixth consecutive month of surpassing pre-Covid levels. However, the severe shortage of ground handling staff, exacerbated by pandemic-related layoffs, led to significant operational challenges at major airports like Delhi and Mumbai. Industry experts also attributed reported incidents and snags to the unavailability of licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) required for aircraft inspections and spot checks. As India's demand for air travel continues to surge, on its way to becoming the world's third-largest aviation market, the need for additional staff, both in the air and on the ground, has become crucial. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) oversees air transport services within and to/from India, ensuring compliance with civil air regulations, maintaining air safety standards, and overseeing aviation personnel licensing and training. On the other hand, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) is an independent regulatory body responsible for economic oversight of airports in the country. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a statutory body tasked with managing, developing, and operating airports, as well as undertaking airport infrastructure development and providing air navigation services.