NEW DELHI, Dec. 26 (Agencies) – India has cleared three new airlines to begin operations, weeks after massive flight disruptions left thousands of passengers stranded across the country.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu announced Tuesday that Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyExpress have received no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the ministry, paving the way for their entry into the domestic market.
“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,” Naidu said in a social media post. He noted that Shankh Air had already secured its NOC earlier, while Al Hind Air and FlyExpress received theirs this week.
The approvals come in the wake of widespread cancellations earlier this month, when India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, struggled to comply with new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) introduced on November 1. The disruption, which stranded thousands of passengers, was attributed to crew-rostering failures and poor planning. Naidu told parliament at the time that “strict action” would be taken against the airline, vowing to set an example for the industry.
IndiGo, which commands a 60% share of India’s domestic market and operates more than 2,000 flights daily, has also been warned by the civil aviation regulator of potential penalties. The crisis triggered a sharp rise in airfares nationwide, compounding the strain during December’s peak travel season, driven by weddings and school holidays.
India’s domestic aviation sector has seen rapid growth in recent years. Of the 174.1 million air passengers recorded in 2024, more than 136.1 million flew domestically, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data. Domestic traffic now accounts for nearly 78.2% of total passenger volumes, up from 72.9% a decade ago, reflecting the sector’s expanding network.
The entry of new airlines is expected to boost competition, expand connectivity, and ease pressure on existing carriers, particularly as demand continues to surge.