Aviation News

DGCA initiates investigation into SpiceJet-Akasa Air minor collision

A SpiceJet aircraft made contact with an Akasa Air plane at Delhi airport, forcing passengers to deplane, with no injuries reported; authorities have begun an investigation

India, New Zealand to sign FTA on April 27, aim for $20 bn investments

India and New Zealand will sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on April 27 here, an official said on Thursday. The free trade pact aims to provide tariff-free access to the island nation's market for domestic exporters' goods and will bring in USD 20 billion in investment over the next 15 years. The two countries on December 22 last year announced the conclusion of negotiations for the trade deal which aims at doubling bilateral trade to USD 5 billion in the next five years. The official said that the pact will be signed on April 27 in Bharat Mandapam after a meeting of the India-New Zealand Business Forum. While India will get zero-duty market access on 100 per cent of its exports, the agreement will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand's exports to India, including items ranging from wool, coal, wood, wine, to avocados and blueberries. However, New Delhi has made no duty concessions on imports of dairy products like milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, and cheese; onio

SpiceJet, Akasa planes collide at Delhi airport, no injuries reported

According to reports, the right winglet of the SpiceJet aircraft was damaged, while the left-hand horizontal stabiliser of the Akasa plane was struck in the collision

Lufthansa faces deeper disruption as cabin crew joins pilots' strike

Flights from Germany to several Middle Eastern destinations are exempt due to the current conflict in the region, the union said

Star Air to launch 38 weekly flights linking Mundra with six cities

Regional airline Star Air on Monday announced it will launch services to Mundra with 38 direct weekly flights, linking the port city to six key cities across Western and Northern India, starting April 25. With over 17,000 additional seats now available each month, the move will boost air connectivity and economic growth in the region, Star Air said. The expansion sees Mundra directly linked to Mumbai, Hindon (Delhi-NCR), Goa (Mopa), and Surat, it said and added that in addition to the 38 direct weekly flights, the airline will also introduce 16 weekly one-stop connections, strengthening ties with Kolhapur and Bhuj and further supporting the region's workforce and entrepreneurs. With an additional 4,104 seats available weekly and 17,000 seats monthly, Star Air's expansion is set to drive new growth in business, trade, and tourism throughout Gujarat and beyond, it said. Star Air said it will deploy its Embraer E175 fleet featuring both business and economy class to operate services o

Govt cuts airport charges by 25% for 3 months; airlines to save ₹400 crore

Government reduces landing and parking charges by 25 per cent for three months to ease airline cost pressures amid rising fuel prices and disruptions

AERA orders major airports to cut some charges by 25% in relief to airlines

The move to cut charges comes after IndiGo and Air India sought the rationalisation of some fees levied by airports

DGCA temporarily relaxes pilot duty time limits for long-haul long flights

Airline regulator DGCA has temporarily relaxed pilot flight duty time limitation (FDTL) for long-haul flights, a senior official said on Tuesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) move is aimed at ensuring pilot availability for smooth operations, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Asangba Chuba Ao, told reporters during a media briefing.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson steps down amid continuing losses: Report

Air India ​CEO Campbell Wilson has ​stepped down from ‌his position, Indian newspaper Mint reported, citing two people with knowledge of the matter

How the Iran conflict is reshaping global aviation, shifting market share

The global aviation dynamic changed almost overnight when the Iran war broke out, shuttering airspaces, grounding planes and leaving regional airlines in disarray

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

Govt order to offer 60% flight seats without additional charges put on hold

The government on Thursday "put in abeyance" its earlier direction to airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats in a flight without levying any additional charge from April 20, according to sources. On March 18, the civil aviation ministry announced that directions have been issued to the DGCA to direct airlines to allocate a minimum of 60 per cent of seats for selection on any flight free of any additional charges to ensure fair access for passengers. "The matter has been reviewed in light of representations received from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air, highlighting operational and commercial implications of the above provision, including its potential impact on fare structures and consistency with the prevailing deregulated tariff regime. "In view of the above, and pending a comprehensive examination of the issue, it has been decided that the provision relating to offering at least 60 per cent of seats free of charge shall be kept in abeyance till further ..

Datanomics: One-third of airline costs burn in fuel in Indian skies

ATF consumption per aircraft moderated during FY16 to FY 25, showing gradual efficiency improvements in the aviation sector

ATF, commercial LPG and premium fuel prices soar amid oil squeeze

Jet fuel prices were partially raised to cushion domestic travellers despite global surge, while commercial LPG prices were hiked and domestic rates kept unchanged

Indigo to raise ticket prices again starting April 2 as ATF costs surge

For domestic routes, the airline said it has adjusted fuel charges based on distance bands after the government allowed only a partial pass-through of rising costs

SpiceJet, Indigo welcome ATF price increase amid West Asia crisis

SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh on Wednesday said the government's decision to allow only a partial increase in jet fuel prices would be a significant relief for the country's aviation industry at a time of unprecedented global uncertainty. PSU oil marketing companies, under the Ministry of Petroleum, in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, decided to implement only a partial and staggered increase of 25 per cent or Rs 15/litre for domestic airlines, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in a post on X. Airlines are already incurring higher operational costs due to the airspace restrictions in the West Asia region amid the conflict. The situation is forcing carriers to take longer routes for international flights, resulting in increased fuel burn. "The government's decision to allow only a partial increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel prices comes as a significant relief for the Indian aviation industry at a time of unprecedented global ...

IndiGo appoints William Walsh CEO to steer growth, stabilise operations

Former IATA chief to take charge from August as airline looks to stabilise operations and drive global expansion following recent disruption and leadership change

Vikram Yadav new DGCA chief; Faiz Ahmed Kidwai's turbulent tenure ends

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai moved after tenure marked by aviation crises, safety lapses and regulatory challenges, as Centre appoints Vir Vikram Yadav as new DGCA chief

Aviation in a tailspin again as it recovers from last year's shocks

Disruptions from Iran war have sharpened underlying challenges in a sector that is still recovering from last year's shocks

IndiGo launches Shanghai-Kolkata flight boosting India-China connectivity

IndiGo airline on Monday launched its daily flight from Shanghai to Kolkata boosting the air connectivity between India and China. The IndiGo6E flight was launched by Indian Consulate General in Shanghai Pratik Mathur. Meeting the IndiGo management team on the occasion, Mathur underlined the positive momentum, appreciated the growing confidence and enthusiasm being expressed through the booming air connectivity and the resurgent economic links between India and the region, the Indian Consulate in Shanghai said in a post on X. Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India have started connecting Shanghai with metro cities such as New Delhi and Kolkata. Kolkata is the second Indian metro after New Delhi now linked with Shanghai, China's commercial capital. Air China plans to launch a direct flight between Beijing and New Delhi on April 21, according to officials. The new route linking Shanghai-Kolkata is also expected to push the development of India's northeast, Mathur said. Kolka