In a major development, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to two new airlines, Alhind Air and FlyExpress, allowing them to move closer to commencing commercial operations. Another carrier, Shankh Air, has already secured approval earlier, with all three airlines targeting launch timelines around 2026. This article provides complete details about the latest development in India’s civil aviation industry.
Highlights
- India’s civil aviation sector is preparing for a significant shift as the government moves to increase competition and expand air connectivity.
- In the wake of the recent IndiGo crisis, this move seems welcomed by consumers and other end stakeholders.
- With the introduction of new airlines, the Indian aviation segment could possibly see a restructuring of the market share in 2026 as the new airlines introduced are all low-cost budget airlines.
- This move is being widely seen as a strategic effort by the government to diversify India’s airline market, which has long been dominated by a small number of major players.
Why New Airlines Are Being Encouraged
India’s domestic aviation market is currently characterised by heavy concentration and duopoly.
Image Title: Indian Civil Aviation Market Share of Airlines 2025 by Statista
- IndiGo and the Air India Group together command an overwhelming majority of the market share, leaving limited room for competition.
- IndiGo commands a lion’s share of 63%, whereas Air India takes 13.6% of the entire market share.
- This concentration has raised concerns about resilience, pricing power and service continuity.
- Recent large-scale flight disruptions due to the IndiGo crisis highlighted how dependent the system has become on a handful of carriers.
Against this backdrop, the government’s decision to approve new airlines can be aimed at:
- Reducing over-dependence on dominant players
- Encouraging competitive fares and improved service quality
- Expanding connectivity to underserved and regional routes
- Supporting the rapid growth of India’s air travel demand
- Avoid a complete aviation collapse-like situation that India has recently experienced during the IndiGo crisis.
India remains one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and this makes it essential to expand capacity while ensuring market stability.
Alhind Air: Company Background and Aviation Plan
Alhind Air is being promoted by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, a well-known name in the travel and tourism industry. The Group has decades of experience in travel services and related operations, and the airline marks its formal entry into scheduled commercial aviation.
- Plans for Alhind Air have been in development since 2024, when the Group first disclosed its intention to launch a commuter airline focused on regional connectivity.
- The airline is expected to leverage the Group’s existing operational expertise while addressing gaps in domestic air travel.
- Early indications suggest a strong focus on southern India, with Kochi International Airport expected to play a key role as an operational base. Though the airline does indicate solely domestic operations initially.
- Alhind Air has also announced its plans of launching with ATR 72-600 aircrafts as their first fleet.
- The airline is also expected to deploy turboprop aircraft, which are well-suited for short-haul and regional routes due to their efficiency and lower operating costs.
- T. Mohammed Haris is serving as the Director of the Alhind Group of Companies currently, headquartered in Kochi, Kerala.
- Alhind Air has also declared that it does intend to expand its horizons to the international aviation market ‘in near future’, though currently will be focused on the domestic market.
Regulatory Status and Launch Timeline of Alhind Air
The granting of an NOC represents a critical milestone, but it is not the final step before flights can begin. Alhind Air must now obtain its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The AOC process includes:
- Aircraft acquisition and registration
- Safety audits and operational readiness checks
- Pilot and crew recruitment and training
- Maintenance approvals and infrastructure setup
Once these requirements are fulfilled, the airline is expected to begin commercial operations in 2026, aligning with the entry timelines of other newly approved carriers.
Route Strategy and Market Positioning of Alhind Air
Alhind Air is expected to focus primarily on domestic regional routes, particularly connecting tier-2 and tier-3 cities with major hubs. This approach aligns with the government’s broader objective of improving last-mile air connectivity and may also complement regional aviation initiatives.
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Though Alhind Air has not officially disclosed its complete strategy aside from declaring its current geographical focus, it is speculated that by operating smaller aircraft on shorter routes, the airline could offer:
- Direct connections where larger airlines do not operate
- Increased flight frequency on high-demand regional sectors
- Improved accessibility for business and leisure travellers
Such a strategy could position Alhind Air to serve markets that are currently underrepresented in India’s aviation network, at the same time breakthrough into an industry dominated by aviation giants IndiGo and Air India.
Shankh Air and FlyExpress Airlines: The Other Airlines Approved Alongside Al Hind Air
Along with Al Hind Air, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted regulatory clearance to two additional carriers Shankh Air and FlyExpress Airlines, as part of the same expansion phase of India’s domestic aviation sector. Both airlines have received No Objection Certificates (NOCs), allowing them to move forward with operational preparations under the oversight of the aviation regulator.
Shankh Air
Shankh Air is being developed by Shankh Aviation, a company based in Uttar Pradesh, and is among the earliest recipients of approval in the current round of airline clearances. With its NOC in place, the airline is now working towards meeting the remaining regulatory requirements needed to begin scheduled flight operations.
- Shankh Air is being launched by Shankh Aviation, a Uttar Pradesh-based aviation venture that has received regulatory clearance to develop the airline for commercial passenger services.
- Company representatives have indicated that Shankh Air is targeting an early-2026 launch, subject to obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- The certification process involves aircraft induction, safety audits, crew training and operational readiness checks, similar to what Alhind Air would be subjected to.
- The airline has stated that it plans to scale its fleet to approximately 20-25 aircraft over the initial years of operation.
- However, detailed disclosures regarding aircraft type, route network and final operating bases have not yet been made public. Further clarity is expected as the airline progresses through the DGCA’s approval process.
FlyExpress Airlines
FlyExpress Airlines has also received an NOC from the civil aviation ministry, positioning it as another prospective entrant into India’s growing airline market. At this stage, limited information has been released publicly regarding the airline’s ownership structure or operational strategy.
- FlyExpress Airlines has secured initial government approval to enter the Indian aviation market, although no official information on its promoters or ownership has been released so far.
- As with Al Hind Air and Shankh Air, FlyExpress must complete the DGCA’s Air Operator Certification process before it can commence commercial services.
- Again, this includes meeting safety, maintenance and operational standards prescribed for scheduled airlines in India.
- Details related to FlyExpress’s fleet plans, network design and launch timeline are expected to emerge once the airline advances further through regulatory clearances.
Impact on India’s Aviation Market 2026
The entry of Alhind Air, Shankh Air and FlyExpress Airlines could bring several changes, such as:
- Increased Competition: New airlines can help break the dominance of existing carriers. This may encourage better pricing, punctuality and service standards.
- Stronger Regional Connectivity: Smaller airlines play a crucial role in connecting emerging cities, and in supporting tourism, trade and local economies.
- Employment Generation: The launch of a new airline creates jobs across multiple areas, including flight operations, ground handling, engineering and customer service.
Why Humans Long to Fly: A Spiritual Explanation
The human longing to fly is not a modern fascination. Long before aircraft existed, ancient sages expressed the same yearning, undertaking intense penance in pursuit of extraordinary powers to soar through the skies. Yet the true origin of this innate desire is not earthly. It arises from our forgotten homeland – Satlok, the eternal realm of Supreme God Kabir, the Creator of all creation.
In Satlok, every soul possesses a divine aircraft that requires no fuel, moving solely by the supreme power of God Kabir. How, then, did we fall from such a perfect and imperishable abode into this mortal world of decay and turmoil? Discover the hidden truth of our exile and the path to return to our true home – Satlok, revealed in these enlightening discourses by Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj:
