Dhaka, March 20 -- India has taken steps toallow airlines to lease more aircraft to fill a gap in capacity as travel rebounds from the pandemic, the country's civil aviation minister said on Monday (March 20).

Airline traffic is recovering quickly from coronavirus restrictions that led to jets being grounded worldwide in 2020, with manufacturers now struggling to keep pace with aircraft demand and engine shortages grounding some planes.

"Surprisingly and shockingly, the situation has turned the other way... Now we do not have enough airplanes to fly our passengers," Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia told the CAPA India Aviation Summit.

Air India last month announced a record order for 470 jets and is due to take anot...