Aviation News

SpiceJet, Ajay Singh undertake to pay ₹140 crore to KAL Airways

The Delhi High Court recorded SpiceJet and Managing Director Ajay Singh's undertaking to pay Rs 140 crore to KAL Airways and Kalanithi Maran in an arbitration award dispute

Airfare regulation plea: SC asks Centre to submit aviation rules in 2 weeks

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to place before it within two weeks the rules framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which is aimed at modernising India's aviation sector. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the rules be placed before it in a sealed cover, irrespective of whether they have been placed before Parliament. The apex court passed the order while hearing a plea filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan, who has sought a robust and independent regulator that ensures transparency and passenger protection across the civil aviation sector, and regulatory guidelines to control the "unpredictable fluctuations" in airfare and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines in India. The counsel appearing for the Centre informed the bench that the draft rules are ready and they are in the process of translation. He said the rules have to be placed before Parliament. "We grant two weeks' time to the respondents to place before this cour

Simaero plans to add more simulators, tap local engineering talent in India

French company Simaero, which has set up its simulator training facility in India, plans to tap the country's local engineering talent in the specialised areas of simulator engineering and technology services. In a recent interview with PTI, Simaero's CEO Nicolas Moute said the company's long-term vision was to build a centre of excellence for aviation training that serves not only India but the wider South Asian region. "We are very optimistic about India. Every market has its challenges, but we see far more opportunities than obstacles," he said, adding that the company does not see any barriers that would prevent it from expanding its presence in the country. At the training facility in Gurugram, Haryana, the company recently launched its first Airbus A320 neo simulator and expects to add one or two more simulators in the near term, based on customer demand. "We could possibly expect to add a Boeing or regional ATR aircraft simulator. However, it would depend on our client's ...

What is Viksit UDAN? India's new push for regional air connectivity

The revamped scheme aims to address the shortcomings of the original UDAN programme while significantly expanding India's regional aviation network and strengthening regional connectivity

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

Air India cuts fuel surcharges for North America, Europe flights

Air India has cut fuel surcharges for flights to North America, Australia, Europe, and the UK as oil prices eased in recent weeks, according to sources. The airline announced fuel surcharges on April 7 amid a surge in oil and jet fuel prices due to the West Asia conflict. The higher costs and airspace curbs had pushed up operational expenses for the airline. Fuel surcharge for North America and Australia flights have been cut to USD 200 from USD 280 per ticket and that for Europe and the UK services have been reduced to USD 125 from USD 205, the sources said on Thursday. The revised fuel surcharges are effective from July 1, the sources said. There was no comment from Air India. Fuel surcharges for other international flights and domestic services of the airline remain unchanged. Fuel surcharges for North America, Australia, Europe, and the UK flights had come into force from April 10. On April 7, the Air India Group announced fuel surcharges ranging from USD 24 to USD 280 for ..

Govt hikes windfall tax on petrol, cuts levy on diesel and ATF exports

The government has lowered export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel while raising the levy on petrol exports as global crude oil prices continue to ease

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

Airfares may stay high as carriers bank fuel relief from Iran deal

As jet fuel prices surged, US airlines raised ticket prices and bag fees, and cut schedules, but those steps have offset only part of the rise in fuel costs

Noida International Airport starts cargo operations with first cargo flight

The Noida International Airport (NIA) began freight operations with the arrival of the first cargo plane on Wednesday, two days after starting commercial passenger flights on June 15. The first cargo flight, a Boeing 737-800F operated by Afcom Holdings between Chennai and Noida, was welcomed with a water cannon salute at the airport's cargo hub. AISATS Multi Modal Cargo Hub (MMCH) at NIA handled the domestic freighter flight at its integrated cargo terminal, with the aircraft carrying nearly 20 tonnes of mixed cargo, including perishables, consolidation shipments, auto components and mobile devices. This marked a major step towards establishing NIA as a logistics gateway for northern India by integrating air cargo handling, warehousing and multimodal connectivity, officials said. AISATS Chief Executive Officer Ramanathan Rajamani said the handling of the first freighter flight marked "the beginning of a new chapter in India's cargo and logistics journey". "As supply chains become

Air India flight from Delhi hit by bird during landing at Raipur Airport

Following the incident, the flight crew carried out all mandatory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as per safety protocol

AI Express flight from Kannur to Jeddah returns due to technical snag

An Air India Express flight bound to Jeddah from Kannur returned within two hours of the flight on Tuesday due to a technical issue, airport sources said. The aircraft with over 180 passengers took off at 7.40 am from Kannur airport, but around two hours into the flight, the pilots found a technical issue and decided to return, the sources said. "The flight landed safely in Kannur. We will know what the problem is hereafter," they said.

Noida International Airport to begin commercial flights from June 15

Commercial flight operations from the Noida International Airport in Jewar will commence on June 15, officials said on Saturday. According to the state government, domestic carrier IndiGo will first launch services from the newly developed facility. A statement said the inaugural flight is scheduled to depart from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow, at 7:05 am and arrive at the Jewar airport at 8:05 am on June 15. Officials said the first regular commercial service from the airport will thereafter operate to Bengaluru. The airport, located in Gautam Buddh Nagar district within the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area, is considered one of the Uttar Pradesh government's flagship infrastructure projects. Officials said it will strengthen the state's position as a major aviation, logistics and connectivity hub. Officials said the airport's first phase is complete, with a capacity to handle 12 million passengers annually. The facility includes a .

Air Arabia flight from Sharjah to Kozhikode diverted after technical snag

An Air Arabia flight from Sharjah to Kozhikode was diverted to Cochin International Airport here early Saturday due to a technical issue, officials said. According to a spokesperson of Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), Air Arabia flight G9 454 landed at the airport due to an issue related to the aircraft's engine reverse thrust system. As per established safety protocols, a local standby was declared at 3.19 am, followed by a full emergency at 3.34 am to ensure the readiness of all airport emergency response services. "The aircraft landed safely at 3.38 am and was guided to the designated parking bay. The full emergency was withdrawn at 3.45 am after all safety checks were completed," the spokesperson said. There were 170 passengers, nine infants and crew members on board. All were safe. Airport operations remained unaffected, the spokesperson added. After the snag was rectified, the aircraft departed for Kozhikode airport at 7.15 am.

Air India AI171 crash anniversary: What happened since the tragedy

Almost a year after Air India AI171 crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, families of the victims await closure as the AAIB final probe report remains pending

Air India's revival on track, but aircraft delays hit growth plans: Wilson

Air India's foundations have been rebuilt over the last four years, but non-delivery of aircraft on schedule has significantly impacted growth and fleet modernisation, according to the airline's outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson. In an interview with PTI, Wilson, who is set to step down as the CEO and MD of Air India later this year, said he has no plans to take up another full-time executive position. The loss-making airline, which was privatised in January 2022 and is now jointly owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is in the midst of an ambitious transformation plan but has been facing multiple headwinds. Describing the journey at Air India as fantastic and incredible, 54-year-old Wilson mentioned various efforts, including the cultural transformation, merger of four airlines, rebranding and upgrading the product, which is well underway. On April 7, Air India announced the resignation of Wilson as CEO and MD. A New Zealander, he was appointed to the role in May 2022. On h

SpiceJet delays pilot salaries, seeks govt-backed loan to shore up finances

SpiceJet was India's second-largest domestic carrier ​by market share in 2019, carrying roughly 15 per cent of passengers, but that has since fallen to a fourth-place share ​of 3.4 per cent

US airlines' fuel bill hits $6.5 bn; global profit outlook nearly halved

US airlines spent more than USD 6 billion on jet fuel in April, up 78 per cent from a year earlier despite using slightly less fuel, government data released Monday showed. Meanwhile, the airline industry's top global trade group warned that soaring energy costs could nearly halve profits in 2026. Since conflict erupted in the West Asia earlier this year after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, much of the shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz -- a critical oil transit route bordering Iran -- has remained effectively halted, pushing up the price of oil and jet fuel. In an effort to contain costs, airlines around the world have raised airfares and fees, cut other perks and cancelled flights or trimmed schedules. US carriers spent nearly USD 6.5 billion on fuel in April, compared with about USD 3.6 billion a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Fuel consumption in April totalled 1.573 billion gallons, down slightly from 1.575 billion ...

SpiceJet plans to induct 3 Airbus A320 planes on damp lease in July

Domestic carrier SpiceJet on Monday said it plans to induct three Airbus A320 planes on a damp lease next month to further expand its fleet. The company has already finalised a lease agreement (with the lessor) for these three narrowbody planes, the airline said in a statement. Along with this, SpiceJet said it has also ungrounded a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and put it back into commercial operations. The additional capacity will support the airline's network requirements during the busy travel season and provide greater operational flexibility across its domestic and international routes, it said. "These aircraft will help us meet growing passenger demand, strengthen operational resilience and enhance network flexibility during a busy travel period," said Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet. The airline, he said, continues to focus on steadily expanding its fleet and improving operational readiness as we move forward with our growth plans.