Wed Dec 24 12:15:12 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Indian civil aviation ministry has granted initial clearance (No Objection Certificates) to two new regional airlines, Al Hind Air and Fly Express, to begin operations. This move comes after significant flight cancellations by IndiGo, the dominant player in the Indian aviation market, which highlighted the need for increased competition. The government aims to encourage more airlines to operate domestically. Al Hind Air plans to operate in southern India using ATR Turboprop aircraft. Shankh Air, another new airline, has already received its NOC and is also expected to begin operations in 2026.
News Article:
New Airlines Take Flight: India Boosts Aviation Competition After IndiGo Cancellations
NEW DELHI – In a move aimed at increasing competition and mitigating the risks of a market dominated by a single player, the Indian civil aviation ministry has granted initial clearance to two new airlines, Al Hind Air and Fly Express, to begin operations. The announcement comes weeks after widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo, India’s largest airline, left thousands of passengers stranded and sparked calls for government action to encourage more companies to enter the 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. While Shankh Air has already got the NOC from the Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs this week,” Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a post on X on Tuesday (December 23, 2025).
The recent disruptions at IndiGo, which controls approximately 65% of the market, highlighted the vulnerability of India’s rapidly growing aviation sector to operational issues within a single major carrier.
Al Hind Air, promoted by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, plans to operate in southern India using ATR Turboprop aircraft. Fly Express also has plans to begin flights. Another airline, Shankh Air, based in Uttar Pradesh, received its No Objection Certificate (NOC) previously and is also anticipated to launch operations in 2026.
Since 2020, India has granted permits to six air operators, including several regional carriers. The existing roster of scheduled carriers includes Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Alliance Air, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91, and IndiaOne Air. The addition of Al Hind Air, Fly Express, and Shankh Air is expected to inject fresh competition into the market and provide travelers with more options.
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