Apart from Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and state-owned Alliance Air, other scheduled carriers are Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91 and IndiaOne Air, as per latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The Civil Aviation Ministry has cleared two new airlines—Al Hind Air and FlyExpress—to begin operations next year, according to a PTI report. Both carriers received their no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the ministry on Wednesday.
In addition, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air is also preparing to enter the aviation market and is expected to launch flight operations in 2026. The airline has already secured its NOC, taking a key step towards commencing services.
Al Hind Air and FlyExpress received NOCs
“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 NOC from the Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs this week,” Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in a post on X on Tuesday.
According to him, it has been the endeavour of the ministry to encourage more airlines in Indian aviation, which is amongst the fastest growing aviation markets.
Govt looking to increase airline operators
The move comes even as the ministry is looking to increase the number of airline operators in the country, which is one of the world’s fastest-growing domestic civil aviation markets, as per the news agency PTI. At present, there are nine scheduled domestic airlines in operation. Regional carrier Fly Big suspended its scheduled services in October. IndiGo and the Air India Group—comprising Air India and Air India Express—together command over 90 per cent of the domestic market.
Concerns over an apparent duopoly in the rapidly expanding aviation sector intensified this month following major operational disruptions at IndiGo, which alone holds a market share of over 65 per cent.
Apart from Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and state-owned Alliance Air, other scheduled carriers are Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91 and IndiaOne Air, as per latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In the past years, many airlines, including Go First and Jet Airways, stopped flying amid debt woes.
About Al Hind Air, FlyExpress
Both new airlines are expected to play a key role in strengthening regional connectivity. Al Hind Air is being promoted by the Kerala-based Alhind Group and, according to its website, will launch operations as a regional commuter airline. It plans to begin services with a fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft, initially focusing on efficient domestic air travel, before eventually expanding to international routes.
“Based at the Kochi hub, alhindair is actively collaborating with Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to ensure a seamless setup of its operational base,” according to its website.
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