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The civilian aviation ministry has granted archetypal clearance to 2 airlines to statesman operations, weeks aft wide cancellations by the country's largest hose IndiGo brought into absorption the deficiency of contention successful the world's fastest-growing aviation market.
The ministry granted a "no-objection certificate" to determination hose Al Hind Air and Fly Express this week, Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said successful a post connected X on Tuesday (December 23, 2025).
“Over the past 1 week, pleased to person met teams from caller airlines aspiring to instrumentality wings successful 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 person received their NOCs this week,” Mr. Naidu said. He added that the authorities is moving to promote much contention successful the home market.
The risks associated with IndiGo's dominance were highlighted earlier this period erstwhile astir 4,500 flights were cancelled owed to mediocre unit planning. The abrupt cancellation led to thousands of passengers being stranded astatine airports crossed India, with galore analysts calling the authorities to incentivise much companies to operate.
Also Read I Why were IndiGo operations disrupted? | Explained
IndiGo has a marketplace share of astir 65%, followed by rival Air India Group with astir 27%. Smaller carriers marque up for the rest.
According to its website, Al Hind aims to statesman operations successful confederate India with a fleet of ATR Turboprop aircraft. It is successful the process of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate. A banner connected Fly Express website besides said "coming soon."
In 2026, isolated from these 2 carriers, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air, which already has a No Objection Certificate (NOC), is apt to commencement operations.
Al Hind Air is being promoted by Kerala-based alhind Group.
India has granted permits to six aerial operators since 2020 to statesman operations, including immoderate determination carriers, the authorities told lawmakers in July.
Apart from Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and State-owned Alliance Air, different scheduled carriers are Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91 and IndiaOne Air, arsenic per latest information from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
With inputs from Reuters, PTI
