CD Web Desk
India’s civil aviation sector may be heading for its most significant reset in years, with three new airlines preparing for take-off amid growing concern over market concentration and passenger disruption.
Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their long-awaited No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, clearing a crucial regulatory hurdle. Another aspirant, Shankh Air, already in possession of an NOC, is also expected to begin operations in 2026. Together, the entrants signal renewed confidence in India’s aviation market—one of the fastest-growing in the world, but also among the most volatile.
A Market Hungry for Alternatives
The timing of these approvals is significant. India’s domestic airline industry is currently dominated by just two groups—IndiGo and the Air India Group (Air India and Air India Express)—which together control over 90 per cent of the market. IndiGo alone accounts for more than 65 per cent, effectively making it the backbone of domestic air travel.
That dominance, however, has also exposed vulnerabilities. Recent large-scale operational disruptions at IndiGo, affecting thousands of passengers, reignited debates around a de facto duopoly and the risks of limited competition in a mass transport system.
Against this backdrop, the entry of new airlines is being seen not merely as expansion, but as course correction.
Government Push for a Broader Aviation Base
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, announcing the latest approvals, underlined the government’s intent to widen the airline ecosystem.
“It has been our endeavour to encourage more airlines in Indian aviation, which is amongst the fastest-growing aviation markets,” he said, noting that teams from Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have recently engaged with the ministry.
Policy initiatives such as the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme have already demonstrated how smaller and regional carriers can unlock untapped routes and make flying accessible beyond metro cities. Airlines like Star Air, IndiaOne Air and Fly91 have carved out niche roles in regional connectivity—suggesting that there is still room in the sky for well-planned newcomers.
Al Hind Air: Kerala’s Aviation Bet
Among the new entrants, Al Hind Air carries particular significance for the southern states. Promoted by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, the airline is expected to focus strongly on routes connecting Kerala with major Indian cities and, eventually, Gulf destinations—an air corridor vital to millions of expatriates.
If executed carefully, Al Hind Air could tap into one of India’s most consistent aviation markets: migrant-heavy, year-round demand driven by work, family travel and religious tourism.
Lessons from the Past
India’s aviation history is littered with cautionary tales. In recent years, once-prominent carriers such as Jet Airways and Go First collapsed under the weight of debt, leasing disputes and cash-flow crises. Even today, airlines like SpiceJet continue to battle financial turbulence.
Industry experts say the success of the new airlines will depend less on ambition and more on disciplined scaling, fleet planning and cost control—areas where many earlier ventures faltered.
What Lies Ahead
As of now, India has nine operational scheduled domestic airlines, excluding regional suspensions like Fly Big, which halted flights in late 2025. The addition of three more carriers could reshape route networks, pricing strategies and service standards—provided they survive the critical first two years.
For passengers, especially those flying from smaller cities and regional hubs, the promise is simple: more choices, better connectivity and less dependence on a single dominant carrier.
Whether Al Hind Air, FlyExpress and Shankh Air can translate regulatory approval into sustainable operations remains to be seen. But their arrival has already injected something the Indian aviation sector desperately needs—competition, optimism, and a sense that the skies are open again.
