Aviation Industry

Saudi-based Riyadh Air to launch daily Mumbai-Riyadh flights from Aug 4

Saudi Arabia-based Riyadh Air on Monday announced its entry into India with the launch of daily direct flight between Riyadh and Mumbai, starting August 4. The premium carrier, backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced that bookings for the daily flight will open from July 6. The new daily air service between Mumbai and Riyadh will be operated by a Boeing B787-9 aircraft, offering a four-class configuration business elite, business, premium economy and economy. The latest route is a key addition to Riyadh Air's growing network, which now spans nine destinations with more set to be announced in the coming days and weeks, the airline said, adding that it also strengthens its mission to connect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with major global and regional hubs. "With India emerging as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, we are delighted to offer travellers a new premium choice and enhanced global connectivity from Mumba

Akasa Air retains 30-40% growth target despite headwinds: CFO Ankur Goel

The airline also aims to expand its passenger-handling capacity by more than 30 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in financial year 2027 (FY27)

Akasa Air plans IPO in next 2-4 yrs; share sale is 'question of when': CFO

Akasa Air plans to come out with its initial share sale in the next two to four years, depending on achieving various milestones, its Chief Financial Officer Ankur Goel said on Tuesday as he stressed that the airline's IPO is "not a question of if but a question of when". After taking to the skies in August 2022, the airline is slowly expanding its presence and currently flies to 34 destinations, including 7 international cities. The nearly four-year-old carrier, now, has a fleet of 39 planes and aims to have 226 aircraft by 2032. Responding to queries about the Initial Public Offering (IPO) at a briefing in the national capital, Goel said the time frame is going to be 2-4 years, depending on achieving various milestones such as being EBITDA positive, cash flow and profitability. "IPO will happen for us, it is not a question of if, it is a question of when, we are not creating an airline to do an IPO, we are creating an airline that really creates value...," he said, and also ...

Akasa Air eyes 30% capacity growth in FY27 despite geopolitical risks

Akasa Air aims at 30 per cent capacity growth in the current financial year and the long term plans have not gone through any rethink amid the geopolitical uncertainties, the airline's Chief Financial Officer Ankur Goel said on Tuesday. The airline, which has been flying for nearly four years, currently has a fleet of 39 Boeing 737 MAX planes and around 25 per cent of its capacity is deployed in international routes. In the 2025-26 fiscal, the airline's operating revenue increased 37 per cent and capacity measured through Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) rose 30 per cent. At a briefing in the national capital, Goel said the focus is to remain well capitalised and the airline has enough cushion to tide through the current situation. The West Asia conflict and higher fuel prices have pushed the operational costs for airlines and some of them have temporarily cut flights. According to Goel, Akasa Air aims to increase capacity by 30 per cent in this financial year and the capacity gro

Star Air launches direct flights to Mundra, operations to begin from Jun 23

Star Air on Tuesday announced the launch of scheduled commercial services to Mundra in Gujarat, marking the airline's 32nd destination on its expanding domestic network. Its operations are set to commence from June 23, further strengthening Star Air's commitment to connecting underserved regions of India with major economic and cultural centres. According to Star Air, Mundra, home to India's largest private commercial and container port and a rapidly growing industrial ecosystem, will now benefit from enhanced air connectivity. "Star Air's new flight services will link Mundra with Mumbai, Hindon, Goa, Surat, Belagavi, Bengaluru, Kolhapur and Nanded, offering greater convenience and reduced travel times for business travellers, professionals, industrial stakeholders, and tourists," the airline said in a statement. The airline said it will operate five weekly direct flights between Mumbai and Mundra, with departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, ensuring ..

Surface connectivity adequate, says Noida airport Vice Chairman Schnellmann

The NIA will start handling flights from Monday onwards, becoming the second major commercial airport in the National Capital Region (NCR) to address the rising passenger demand

Huge aviation opportunities in India, but taxes are a hurdle: IATA chief

India is a fantastic market that demonstrates the real value of aviation, but high fuel costs is a challenge for the local airlines, IATA chief and IndiGo's incoming CEO Willie Walsh said on Monday. Speaking at briefings after the conclusion of the IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the city, Walsh said India has great opportunities, as well as some as challenges. Howeever, taxation could slow down the growth potential, he added. "The net position in India is very, very exciting and that is proven by the growth that we've seen in the domestic market... I think (there) would be a very significant growth in the international market in due course as well," he said. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a grouping of more than 370 airlines and accounts for around 85 per cent of the global air traffic. Talking about the challenges in the Indian market, Walsh cited high fuel costs. "That is an additional burden when fuel (price) is denominated in dollars and you've see

Akasa Air gains ground as rivals cut flights amid Iran war disruption

Akasa Air, which was founded during the coronavirus pandemic and made its first commercial flight in 2022, operated 10,109 flights in March and April 2026

SC bats for rationalisation of airfares, asks Centre to provide relief

The Supreme Court on Friday said there should be some rationalisation of airfares and asked the Centre to provide relief to flyers. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta flagged that on the same day, one airline flying in the same sector charges a particular airfare while other charges a different airfare. "Try to give some relief to the people because of the discrepancy. On the same day, flights to the same sector, one airline charges Rs 8000 while the other airline charges Rs 18000 for the economy class," the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre. Justice Mehta said, "There should be some rationalisation (of airfares)" after the solicitor general said that a new enactment of 2024 has come into effect and the corresponding rules are in the process of consultation. Mehta said the government was not disputing the problem and is treating the issue as non-adversarial and considering all aspects. The bench was hearing a plea filed by social ..

Air India terminated over 1,000 staff in 3 yrs for ethical breaches: CEO

Air India has terminated more than 1,000 staff in the last three years for ethical breaches, including those for misusing the employee leisure travel system, according to the airline's chief Campbell Wilson. Flagging that hundreds of employees are terminated every year due to non-compliance, Wilson has also emphasised that the staff need to act in the right way even when others are not looking. As Air India implements cost-saving measures amid significant financial headwinds, Wilson made the remarks during the town hall meeting with the staff on Friday, according to sources. Tata Group-owned Air India has around 24,000 employees now. The airline's CEO and MD said that over the past three years, "we have terminated more than 1,000 people for ethical breach" such as smuggling things off the plane and allowing excess baggage onto the aircraft without being charged. He also mentioned hundreds of staff who had misused the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system and added that such things

Navi Mumbai International Airport in talks with govt for global hub status

The plan envisages to bring back transfer traffic which have been using global hubs like Dubai, Doha, London, Frankfurt amongst others

How IndiGo is set to dominate Navi Mumbai over rivals with capacity push

Aviation experts say the expansion in NMIAL is closely tied up with the availability of new planes the airlines need to expand

Singapore Airlines deepens role at Air India amid losses, safety concerns

While relying on its minority shareholder for operational support, Tata Group, which owns 74.9% of Air India, is focusing on commercial, human resources, finance and information technology functions

Air India expects to complete retrofit of 7 more Boeing 787-8 planes

Air India expects to complete retrofitting of seven more legacy Boeing 787-8 planes this year as it upgrades the fleet of these aircraft that is key to the airline's long-haul operations. The loss-making carrier, which is in the midst of an ambitious transformation plan, has received the first of its retrofitted legacy Boeing 787-8 plane, which has 250 seats in three class configuration of business, premium economy and economy. The plane landed in the national capital on April 13. Air India's Chief Customer Experience Officer Rajesh Dogra on Sunday said the airline expects to complete retrofitting of a total of eight legacy Boeing 787-8s this year. This includes the plane that landed on April 13. On Sunday, the airline unveiled the retrofitted, twin-aisle B787-8 (VT-ANT) that underwent a nose-to-tail cabin refresh. According to Dogra, 85 per cent of the legacy Boeing 787-8 planes retrofit is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and retrofitting of all such aircraft is likel

SpiceJet preparing for layoffs as financial troubles intensify: Report

Salary delays have stretched to months while fleet size has dropped, pushing the cash-strapped airline to seek govt funding as competition, operational constraints intensify, a media report said

EU to push for jet fuel diversification as Iran war threatens supply

Flights in Europe could start to be cancelled from the end of May due to a lack of jet fuel, the International Air Transport Association's director general Willie Walsh said

Singapore Airlines CEO to hold talks with Tata executives on Air India ops

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong will be meeting senior Tata Group executives on Thursday, and both sides are expected to have detailed discussions on loss-making Air India. Goh Choon Phong arrived at the Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group, on Thursday morning. Tata Group acquired Air India from the Indian government in January 2022, and later Singapore Airlines purchased a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline. A source said he would be meeting senior Tata Group executives. Details about his planned meetings with the Tata Group executives could not be immediately ascertained. According to reports, the Singapore Airlines CEO will be meeting Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of Air India facing multiple headwinds, including spiralling operating costs due to the airspace curbs in the wake of the West Asia conflict and the closure of Pakistan airspace for nearly a year now. These restrictions have forced the

War impact: India's overall airline capacity declines 0.2% in April

West Asia tensions dent international travel demand, dragging down India's airline capacity in April despite steady domestic growth and rising fares

US opposes Adani push to shift cargo carriers to new Mumbai airport

US Department of Transportation wrote to India's aviation ministry in March, arguing that Adani Airport Holdings Ltd.'s push to relocate freighters violates the bilateral Air Transport Agreement

Chandrasekaran says Air India is going through a challenging period

Chandrasekaran urged staff to focus on execution and stay grounded in reality