Indian Aviation

We are now in 2026. Indian consumers have taken to air travel in a big way and there will be continued demand as long as air fares don't balloon

The current scenario, where airlines are unable to find suitable top candidates in India, can be partly traced back to the country's chequered aviation history

Akasa Air and Air India Express, the key operators of Boeing 737 planes in India, on Friday said their fleets are not impacted by the US aviation watchdog FAA's directive for inspection of these jets for possible fuselage cracks. Apart from Akasa Air and Air India Express, SpiceJet also operates the narrow-body Boeing 737 aircraft, but the airline did not comment on the impact of the directive. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for certain Boeing 737-8, 737-9 and 737-8200 aircraft. There were reports of cracks in the bearing strap at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door cutout of the aircraft. The directive requires an inspection of the fuselage skin for existing repairs and applicable on-condition actions, according to the watchdog. In a statement, a Boeing spokesperson said it identified and reported this issue and has been working with operators on it over the past six years. Since 2021, there have been

Akasa Air sees resilient travel demand despite rising fuel and forex costs, while betting on new airports and long-term expansion

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Thursday said there is no proposal to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) and that spreading misinformation on aviation safety creates needless anxiety among air travellers. His comments come against the backdrop of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claiming that the central government was planning to blend ethanol in ATF. "Sources indicate that the Modi government plans to mix ethanol in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Experts say that this could seriously compromise the safety of flights," Kejriwal said in a post on X. Naidu said the claim that the government plans to blend ethanol with ATF is completely false and irresponsible and added that there is no such proposal. "Spreading misinformation on aviation safety only creates needless anxiety among air travellers. Passenger safety remains the Government's highest priority," the minister said in a post on X. Elaborating, Naidu said ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Air India on Wednesday announced the appointment of former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief Tewolde Gebremariam as the next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He will replace Campbell Wilson, who announced his resignation in April this year. In a release, Air India said it rigorously evaluated internal as well as highly accomplished external candidates from across the world before deciding on Gebremariam. The appointment comes at a crucial time when the loss-making Air India is working on expansion amid multiple external headwinds. Gebremariam has served as the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, where he spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion, transforming a regional carrier into Africa's largest and most profitable airline, the release said.

The consolidation has left the market with two airlines of consequence - IndiGo and the Air India group

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport here at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district. The Andhra Pradesh government views the nearly Rs 5,000 crore Bhogapuram Airport, developed by GMR Group, not merely as an infrastructure project, but as a transformational asset for the entire North Andhra region. It was conceived as a catalyst for industrial growth, employment generation, exports, skill development and research. Designed to handle six million passengers annually in the first phase, the airport also has a master plan to expand the capacity to 40 million passengers annually. Commercial operations of the airport would begin from August 17. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted the salient features of the airport to the PM. Later in the day, PM Modi would lay the foundation for and inaugurate projects worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore in the southern state.

IndiGo says it has strengthened operations after last year's disruption as Rahul Bhatia outlines plans for global expansion and making India a major aviation hub

Higher fuel and leasing costs pushed IndiGo into a Q1 loss, but brokerages remain positive on the airline's long-term growth driven by strong demand and international expansion

The Adani Group is considering starting an airline, a move that could intensify competition in India's aviation market dominated by IndiGo and Air India

Government is considering relaxing ownership rules that could allow airport operators such as Adani Group and GMR Airports to own airlines, aiming to boost competition in the domestic aviation market

Pilot body cites security risks, but carriers fear a suspension could knock their recovery off course

The decline is the highest among the global top 10 domestic aviation markets; among international routes, India-UAE saw a drop of 5.9 per cent

Seven of India's busiest airports and eight of its largest overseas markets saw departing seat capacity shrink in June

Commercial flights continue on only 336 of 669 routes launched under the regional connectivity scheme since 2017, with airlines citing airport readiness, funding and access to metro hubs as challenges

ICRA has raised its FY27 airline loss estimate to Rs 36,000-38,000 crore and cut traffic growth forecasts, citing higher ATF prices, a weaker rupee and lease costs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Hub and Spoke international flights model will reduce travel time for passengers as well as being regions of India closer to global opportunities. The Hub and Spoke model seeks to enable seamless connectivity between Tier-II and Tier-III airports with international destinations. Under this model, Air India on Thursday launched flight operations from Varanasi that will connect passengers to various overseas cities through Delhi. Describing the launch of the first Hub and Spoke international flight operations as a historic milestone, Modi said better international connectivity creates new opportunities for trade, tourism, investment, education and business. "It enables people from smaller cities to access global destinations through a single, integrated journey while also supporting the movement of goods and services. This will contribute to regional development and strengthen India's economic growth," he said in a message. The message

The government has launched the first service under the hub-and-spoke model; here's how the system works and what it could mean for travellers from smaller cities

Air India posted a $2.96 billion loss in FY26, its biggest since Tata regained control in 2022, raising fresh questions over the pace and cost of its turnaround