The Government of India informed Parliament on Thursday that a total of 2,645 positions remain vacant across the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and three major aviation regulatory bodies — the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA).
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said that efforts are ongoing to fill the manpower gaps. The vacancies include posts created as part of organisational restructuring as well as direct recruitment roles, particularly in operational areas.
At the DGCA, 787 positions are unfilled, a situation largely attributed to the creation of 441 additional posts during restructuring between 2022 and 2024. The AAI faces the largest shortfall with 1,667 vacancies in direct recruitment (executive) categories.
Smaller regulators also report gaps: BCAS has 180 vacant positions, while AERA has 11 posts yet to be filled. Mohol noted that BCAS and AERA operate largely on deputation, with vacancy circulars issued periodically in accordance with prescribed norms.
To address staff shortages, the AAI has expedited recruitment, redeployed personnel at sensitive airports, and created additional Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) posts aligned with expanding airspace needs.
In related parliamentary replies, Mohol also revealed that IndiGo cancelled 6,936 flights over the past three months, affecting more than 10.8 lakh passengers, with causes ranging from operational issues to weather challenges.
Sarkar ne Parliament ko bataya hai ki Airports Authority of India (AAI) aur teen aviation regulatory bodies mein kul 2,645 posts khali pade hain. In regulators mein DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) aur AERA (Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India) shamil hain.
Civil Aviation Ministry ke mutabik, sabse zyada vacancies AAI mein 1,667 posts ki hain, jabki DGCA mein 787 posts abhi bhare jaana baaki hain. DGCA mein ye vacancies recent organisational restructuring aur naye posts create hone ke baad badhi hain.
BCAS mein 180 posts vacant hain, jabki AERA mein 11 positions khali hain. Sarkar ne kaha ki BCAS aur AERA largely deputation ke through kaam karte hain, isliye vacancies ko fill karne ke liye regular circulars issue kiye ja rahe hain.
Government ka kehna hai ki recruitment process fast-track par hai aur operational requirements ko dhyan mein rakhte hue staffing gaps ko gradually fill kiya ja raha hai, khaaskar aviation sector ke rapid expansion ko dekhte hue.
Aviation sector mein manpower shortage ko lekar concerns ke beech, sarkar ne ye bhi clear kiya hai ki safety aur regulatory oversight par koi compromise nahi kiya jaayega.