Airlines

Air India board to meet May 7; cost-saving steps, CEO selection on agenda

As headwinds persist for the loss-making Air India, its board is expected to discuss cost-saving plans, selection of the next CEO, financials, and other issues during the meeting scheduled for May 7, according to sources. Headwinds for the Air India Group, which is projected to have incurred more than Rs 22,000 crore loss in the financial year ended March 2026, have multiplied with the West Asia conflict. In the midst of an ambitious transformation plan, the Tata Group-owned airline is also scouting for a new CEO as incumbent and Singapore Airlines Group veteran Campbell Wilson will be stepping down later this year. The sources said the board, chaired by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, will meet in Mumbai on May 7. Various cost-saving measures, CEO succession plans, financials for 2025-26 fiscal year as well as other issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting, the sources said. Tata Sons and Air India did not offer comments. As part of stringent measures to save

Spirit Airlines shuts down ops due to Iran war-driven fuel crisis

The collapse of the first carrier due to a doubling in jet fuel prices during the two-month-old Iran war will cost thousands of jobs

6 passengers injured evacuating from Swiss Air flight in India: Report

The incident occurred when one of the aircraft's engines failed and caught fire during the takeoff roll, prompting the crew to stop the aircraft and initiate an emergency evacuation

Foreign holiday? West Asia war heat burns hole in pocket this summer

While West Asia is out of bounds because of the war, high airfares to SE Asia are also a concern for travellers

Airlines in no hurry to move to Navi Mumbai airport, says Air India

Air India flags higher tariffs, poor connectivity, and dual-operation costs as hurdles to shifting flights to Navi Mumbai Airport, challenging expectations of rapid airline migration

How West Asia conflict impacted Indian airlines' international business

Even as Iran and the US have agreed to a ceasefire for the next two weeks, the West Asia conflict’s huge impact on India’s air carriers is evident

Pilots fear retribution over refusing to fly in West Asia: Aviators' group

Pilots from Lebanon to India have voiced 'widespread' concerns they could face sanctions if ​they do not fly in often unpredictable conditions where airspace can close with little notice

How West Asia conflict impacted Indian airlines' international business

West Asia conflict forces Indian airlines to cancel one in five international flights in March, sharply cutting capacity and disrupting operations across key routes

Govt keeps 60% free airline seat allocation directive in abeyance

Civil aviation ministry defers rule mandating 60% free seat selection after airlines flag concerns over fares, ancillary revenues and impact on deregulated pricing framework

Impossible to quantify war impact on airlines; airfares on rise: IATA

With sharp rise in fuel costs as well as tight capacity and thin margins for airlines, airfares are already rising in the wake of the Middle East war, global airlines' grouping IATA said on Tuesday. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents around 350 airlines, including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. On Tuesday, the grouping released the data for global passenger demand in February 2026 and said total demand in terms of Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) rose 6.1 per cent last month compared to the year-ago period. Total capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), increased 5.6 per cent year-on-year while the passenger load factor stood at 81.4 per cent, the highest February figure on record, it said in a release. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said with an RPK expansion of 6.1 per cent, February was a strong month, showing that the fundamentals for demand growth were in place for a positive year. "However, without knowing t

Weak rupee, higher fuel costs, Iran war weigh on IndiGo's FY27 outlook

Geopolitical tensions, rising crude prices and rupee depreciation prompt brokerages to cut IndiGo's earnings estimates for FY27 despite stable demand outlook

Airlines raise fares, cut capacity as soaring oil prices threaten profits

Carriers ranging from United Airlines to Air New Zealand and Scandinavia's ‌SAS have announced capacity cuts and fare hikes, while others have imposed fuel surcharges

Gulf airspace closures leave travellers stranded and bleeding cash

Some people booked on Gulf carriers have described hours on hold to reach customer service, repeated cancellations with little explanation and automatic refunds without rebooking options

Airlines warn free seat mandate will raise fares, hurt affordability

We were not consulted before this order was passed, said the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA)

Govt curbs airline seat selection add-ons, mandates 60% seats free

Aviation Ministry's directive aims to curb 'dark pattern' practices and improve passenger experience

Ensure airlines assess risk before flying in conflict-hit areas: ALPA

Pilots' body ALPA India on Tuesday asked its members to ensure that airline operators carry out "appropriate operational risk assessments" before planning flights in or near conflict-affected areas. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) India, in an advisory to all pilots under an Indian licence, said that the pilots must remain aware that the risk environment in conflict-affected areas can change rapidly and without adequate warning. The advisory has come amid the escalating war in West Asia, involving the US, Israel and Iran, which has led to cancellations of a number of flights due to airspace closures since February 28. The pilots' body said that members are advised to take note of the potential implications related to aviation insurance coverage, particularly with respect to war-risk clauses. Under certain circumstances, insurance providers may withdraw or limit coverage for operations conducted in designated conflict zones or high-risk airspaces, it said. ALPA India is an .

CEOs of US airlines demand Congress restore funding to Homeland Security

The CEOs of the nation's top airline companies, including American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue, are imploring Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and embrace a bipartisan solution to pay federal aviation workers including airport security officers during the partial government shutdown. "Once again, air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown," the executives wrote in an open letter to Congress that was published Sunday online and in The Washington Post. The letter, which was also signed by the CEOs of the cargo companies UPS, FedEx and Atlas Air, said that Congress should pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which would guarantee air traffic controllers are paid regardless of the government's funding status, as well as the Keep America Flying Act. That measure would offer the same protections to Transportation Security Administration officers tasked to provide security and to screen

Asian airlines raise fares as West Asia conflict drives fuel costs

Airlines in the region aren't as well hedged against high oil prices as rivals in Europe or the US, making them more vulnerable to sudden surges in jet fuel prices

SpiceJet receives MoU for 10 aircraft, fleet set to double this year

This development follows the Board's approval, announced last week, for a calibrated ramp-up of the fleet to 60 aircraft through a mix of wet and damp leases

Study underway to address height curbs for buildings near airports: Naidu

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Friday said a study is being conducted with the assistance of global aviation body ICAO to look into solutions that can address issues related to height restrictions for buildings around airports. India is one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation markets and currently, there are 165 airports. Another 50 airports are projected to come up in the next five years While real estate development is gaining momentum, height restrictions are in place for buildings around airports to ensure safe flight operations. Against this backdrop, the minister mentioned the study while addressing the gathering at the National Urban and Real Estate Development Conclave 2026 organised by real estate industry body Naredco in the national capital. While the civil aviation sector is growing continuously, Naidu said the challenge is the height restrictions for buildings around the airports, especially in metros like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai.