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26-12-2025
Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: In an attempt to prevent a repeat of the recent IndiGo fiasco, the Indian government has given the green light to two new airlines. The move comes on the heels of a disruption that left thousands of flyers stranded and showed just how risky too much reliance on just a couple of airlines can be.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed on social media that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted official No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Al Hind Air and FlyExpress, meaning these carriers can now formally begin preparing to take to the skies.
“Over the last one week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skies Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. While Shankh Air has already got the no objection certificate (NOC) from the ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs this week,” Naidu wrote.
Schemes like UDAN have enabled smaller carriers Star Air, India One Air, Fly91 etc. to play an important role in the regional connectivity within the country and there is more scope for further growth, he added.
Breaking up a duopoly
The government’s decision is widely seen as part of broader efforts to weaken the dominance of the largest carriers, particularly IndiGo, which holds more than 65% of India’s domestic market.
Earlier this month, IndiGo was forced to cancel more than 4,000 flights due to operational challenges, leaving passengers scrambling for alternatives.
By approving Al Hind Air and FlyExpress, along with already-cleared Shankh Air expected to start operations in 2026, officials hope that Indian flyers will soon have more choices and better reliability.
While getting an NOC is an important first step, both airlines still need to secure an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from aviation regulators before they can actually start flying passengers. Even so, industry watchers say the approvals send a clear message: New players are welcome, and competition is needed.
IndiGo is facing heat after hundreds of its flights were delayed or cancelled last week, impacting thousands of passengers. The airline admitted the disruptions were due to its failure to prepare for the second phase of the new crew rest and duty norms that came into effect on November 1.
As IndiGo drew massive backlash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation watchdog, has now slashed the airline’s winter schedule. The freed slots will be allotted to other airlines, the government said.
IndiGo flight schedules cut by 5%
The DGCA has decided to cut IndiGo’s flight schedule by 5 per cent. The Indian airline operates more than 2,300 domestic and international flights every day. A reduction would entail that IndiGo would fly 115 fewer planes daily.
As per Indian Express, these cuts will be imposed on high-demand and high-frequency routes and the airline has already been informed.
The DGCA said that the winter schedule of IndiGo was assessed after last week’s flight disruptions. The flights to be reduced are being finalized to ensure that the overall air connectivity is not affected.
“The flights to be cut are being worked out so as not to impact connectivity on the routes where these cuts take place,” sources told Times of India (TOI).
For the summer schedule, IndiGo was approved to operate 14,158 weekly domestic flights. For the winter schedule that began October 26, its weekly domestic flights were enhanced by six per cent to 15,014.
