New Delhi:
The Civil Aviation Ministry has granted no objection certificates (NOCs) to two new airlines, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress, as it steps up efforts to reduce the dominance of a handful of carriers in India’s domestic aviation market.
The approvals come amid renewed concern over the sector’s growing duopoly, with IndiGo and the Air India Group together controlling over 90 per cent of the domestic market. IndiGo alone accounts for more than 65 per cent, raising worries about the risks of over-dependence on a single airline.
Those concerns sharpened earlier this month after widespread operational disruptions at IndiGo led to significant schedule collapses, affecting thousands of passengers and highlighting vulnerabilities in a highly concentrated industry.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed the latest clearances in a post on X on Tuesday. He said the ministry had held meetings with teams from Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. While Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air already holds an NOC and is expected to begin commercial operations in 2026, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress received their clearances this week.
About the Author
