Aviation News

Nepal-bound flydubai flight diverted to Lucknow due to bad weather

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Nepal's Pokhara was diverted to Lucknow on Saturday evening due to adverse weather at the destination airport, officials said. Flight FZ 1165, operating from Dubai International Airport to Pokhara, was diverted to Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, where it landed safely at 6.53 pm, they said. The flight was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft bearing registration A6-FMU. After weather conditions at the Pokhara airport improved, the aircraft departed from Lucknow at 8.08 pm, officials said. The diversion was solely due to bad weather and was not prompted by any technical problem or emergency. The aircraft made a normal landing at Lucknow airport, they said.

No plan to split flights between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai: Air France-KLM

Airline says splitting passenger operations would reduce efficiency and complicate ground handling; complete shift to Navi Mumbai remains possible if capacity falls

Higher fuel costs for IndiGo likely to keep profits under pressure

IndiGo's market dominance, fleet expansion and international growth offer long-term upside, but elevated fuel costs continue to weigh on margins

Air India's CEO-designate pitches for cost discipline, sustainable profits

Air India's incoming CEO Tewolde Gebremariam on Monday emphasised the need to improve financial performance and announced plans to introduce programmes that will reward staff who come up with ideas to bring down cost. Asserting that achieving sustainable profitability remains a key objective, Gebremariam said cost discipline must become part of the airline's culture. "Cost management is not just the responsibility of leadership or the finance function. Every employee can contribute to savings, and those savings add up across an organisation of our scale," he said at a townhall. Gebremariam, who has been appointed as the CEO and MD of the loss-making Tata Group-owned airline, will take charge after receiving requisite security approvals. In his second interaction with the employees in recent weeks, Gebremariam said the airline plans to introduce programmes that reward ideas that generate measurable cost savings and operational efficiencies. According to him, a combination of extern

Airbus detects surface coating issue in A321 neo fuselage, IndiGo impacted

"The source of the issue has been identified, contained and a remedy is available. All newly coated stringers conform to all requirements," Airbus spokesperson said

No decision yet on operators of airports owning airlines, says Naidu

Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu says the government is weighing the pros and cons of relaxing cross-ownership restrictions as it seeks to increase airline choices

DGCA doing operational, financial checks on SpiceJet: Aviation Min Naidu

Aviation watchdog DGCA is carrying out the operational and financial scrutiny of budget carrier SpiceJet to ensure that passengers do not face any inconvenience, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Tuesday. As SpiceJet grapples with multiple headwinds resulting in frequent flight delays and operational issues, Naidu also made it clear that the civil aviation ministry has limitations in intervening in the affairs of a private carrier. In July, the airline's domestic market share dropped to 1.6 per cent from 1.9 per cent in June, as per the latest official data. "The immediate activity in the ministry regarding SpiceJet is that we have operational and, to a certain extent, financial scrutiny also being done from the ministry through the DGCA because we don't want any lapse in safety," Naidu said. The minister was responding to a query regarding SpiceJet on the sidelines of signing pacts with states for the next phase of Udaan in the national capital. Naidu said the mini

Aviation Min signs 21 agreements under UDAN to boost regional connectivity

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday said it has signed 21 agreements with states and union territories under the next phase of the UDAN scheme to strengthen regional air connectivity. The memorandums of understanding (MoUs) mark a significant milestone in centre-state/UT cooperation to develop aviation infrastructure and expand air connectivity to underserved and unserved regions. A total of 21 MoUs were signed between the Ministry of Civil Aviation, participating states/UTs and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the implementing agency under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme. The agreements establish a structured framework for coordinated action between the Centre, states/UTs and AAI to identify, develop and operationalise aviation assets, aligned with the connectivity requirements and priorities of states and Union Territories. "With these MoUs, Team Bharat is joining hands to take India's regional aviation to greater heights. Under the leadership of Prime Minister

Govt to assess pros and cons of airport operators holding airline stakes

The government will assess the "pros and cons" of the proposal for airport operators owning stakes in airlines and decide on a balanced approach, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of signing pacts for the next phase of Udaan, the minister said that to make full use of today's strong travel demand, India's aviation sector needs at least five airlines operating with 100 aircraft each. He said the ministry is actively supporting the ambition given the country's size and growing airport network. Naidu further said people, even in small towns, want airports in their vicinity. "So, it is important for us to plan not only for the aspirations today, but for Viksit Bharat 2047 also," he said, adding that India should ideally have more than 350 airports. To a query on the Adani Group seeking to own a stake in an airline, the minister said one thing from the government is clear: the country needs more airlines to come into the ...

India, Vietnam agree to double flight capacity to over 16,000 seats a week

The increase, effective immediately, comes as airlines from both countries have used up, or are close to exhausting, their existing flying rights

Noida int'l airport likely to see 'slower ramp-up': Operator Zurich Airport

Noida International Airport is expected to see a "slower ramp-up" due to a challenging geopolitical environment, and near-term performance is subject to elevated uncertainty, according to its operator Zurich Airport International AG. The airport, located in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, started operations on June 15, handling 1,044 flights and 77,000 passengers in July. In June, Noida International Airport handled 204 flights and 25,000 passengers. "Slower ramp-up expected due to challenging geopolitical environment, with near-term performance remaining subject to elevated uncertainty," Zurich Airport International said in its investor presentation for the first half of 2026. According to the presentation, the route network will continue to expand, with international services expected to follow at the Noida International Airport. "Strong confidence in the long-term growth potential and attractive fundamentals of the Indian aviation market," the company said in the presentation on Friday.

Air India, Bhutan's Drukair to offer travel across each other's networks

Air India on Wednesday said it has entered into an interline partnership with Bhutanese flag carrier Drukair-Royal Bhutan Airlines to offer passengers seamless travel on each other's network and strengthen connectivity between the two South Asian neighbours. With this collaboration, Tata group-owned Air India said it now provides seamless connectivity to nearly all countries in the SAARC region through its own or partner network. Apart from India and Bhutan, other countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. An interline arrangement is a pact to issue and accept tickets for flights that are operated by the partner airline. When selling an interline ticket, the operating airlines' flight numbers are used. The partnership with the Bhutanese carrier enables passengers to benefit from a single-ticket itinerary combining Air India and Drukair flights, ensuring a seamless end-to-end ..

Govt mulls random drug tests for all commercial pilots round the year

The civil aviation ministry is looking at the possibility of carrying out psychoactive substance tests for all commercial pilots round the year on a random basis. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is holding discussions with stakeholders on further strengthening the drug-testing standards of pilots. "Right now, the rules say 10 per cent (drug tests) across the overall pilot network, but just like I said, DGCA is engaging (with stakeholders)... One of the opinions from our side is that everyone has to go through it (drug tests) the (whole) year at a random time. "So, we have to see how all the stakeholders are going to respond to this," the minister said. The issue of possible substance use by pilots has come to the spotlight after an Air India captain of Phuket-Delhi flight involved in a sudden altitude loss incident was tested positive for marijuana. Currently, drug tests for pilots are done on a random ...

Air India seeks $1.5 bn from owners Tata, Singapore Air as losses mount

The carrier and its budget unit Air India Express posted combined losses of $2.33 billion in the fiscal year ended March, more than double the prior year's losses

CIAL, SpiceJet trade charges over weather-linked flight disruption in Kochi

CIAL on Saturday said there were no adverse weather conditions in Kochi to warrant disruptions to SpiceJet services and accused the airline of spreading misinformation. SpiceJet, in a social media post, said: "Due to bad weather in Kochi, all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might be affected. Passengers are requested to check their flight status via https:picejet.com/#status." In a passenger advisory, Cochin International Airport Limited said it had noted ongoing operational issues with SpiceJet affecting its international services, including those from Kochi, causing considerable inconvenience and uncertainty for passengers. "SpiceJet has issued a social media communication spreading misinformation by attributing the disruption to bad weather at Kochi," CIAL said. It said there were no adverse weather conditions in Kochi warranting the disruption cited by the airline. "No other airline operating from Kochi has reported such disruptions on account of weather ..

Bengaluru airport to levy UDF on arrivals, cut fee for departures

The new tariff structure introduces a user development fee for arriving passengers while reducing the fee for departing passengers

Domestic air traffic falls 4.8% to 12 million in July as demand weakens

Domestic air passenger traffic fell 4.8% year-on-year to 12 million in July, weighed down by high airfares and seasonal slowdown after a 15.39-million peak in May

35 years of liberalisation: How aviation reforms gave wings to pvt sector

The reforms of 1991 triggered the first wave of private airlines, yet most entered a sector that demanded far deeper financial resources than anticipated

Air New Zealand appoints former Air India CEO Campbell Wilson as director

The appointments come as the airline, New Zealand's national carrier, navigates delayed aircraft deliveries, persistent engine problems and elevated fuel costs stemming from the West Asia conflict

Aircrew face higher odds of radiation-related cancer deaths, study finds

A Harvard-led study found pilots and flight attendants had the highest proportions of radiation-related cancer deaths among 503 occupations studied