Civil Aviation Ministry

Aviation Ministry weighs curbs on festival airfare surge, Centre tells SC

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Ministry of Civil Aviation was actively considering the issues raised in a PIL which sought regulatory guidelines to control the unpredictable fluctuations in airfare and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines in India. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which termed the issue as "serious", granted four weeks to the Centre for the conclusion of the deliberations on the issue flagged in the public interest litigation (PIL). "This is a very serious concern. Otherwise, we don't entertain 32 petitions," the bench said. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik said that they need at least three weeks to file their response on the PIL as the concerned ministry is actively considering the issues raised in the petition. The bench, which recorded that the issues have been taken note by the ministry, posted the matter for further hearing on March 23. On January 19, the top court said it wo

AAIB to issue preliminary report on Baramati Learjet 45 plane crash: MoCA

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday said AAIB will issue a preliminary report on the probe into the Learjet 45 plane crash near Baramati last month, emphasising that all investigative actions are being taken with full transparency and professional integrity. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in the crash on January 28. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said specialised support has been sought for the retrieval of data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the VSR Ventures-owned Learjet 45 plane. Amid concerns raised in certain quarters about the operator, crash and the ongoing probe, the ministry said the "AAIB's investigation is technical and evidence-based, involving systematic examination of wreckage, operational and maintenance records and laboratory testing of components where required". A preliminary report will be issued within 30 days of the occurrence, as per ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) norms, and

VSR Ventures' special audit to conclude shortly: MoCA

DGCA's special audit of VSR Ventures nears completion after the Learjet 45 crash; MoCA says further action will follow under enforcement rules

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.

Study underway to address height curbs near airports: Aviation minister

India aims to have 50 more airports in the next five years which will also create huge opportunities for the country's real estate sector, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Friday. Noting that airports are the "scaffolding" for the real estate sector, the minister also said that he is working actively to address issues related to height restrictions for buildings near airports without compromising on aviation safety. India is one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation markets and currently, there are 165 operational airports in the country. On an average, a new airport or a new terminal is built every 33 days, Naidu said. He was speaking at the National Urban and Real Estate Development Conclave 2026 organised by real estate industry body Naredco in the national capital. Highlighting the growth potential of the country's real estate sector, he said the segment is projected to be worth USD 1 trillion by 2030 and further increase to be valued at USD 5-7 trillio

Turkish Airlines flight diverts to Kolkata after mid-air engine fire

The Kathmandu-Istanbul Turkish Airlines flight declared a PAN PAN emergency after its right engine caught fire mid-air and diverted safely to Kolkata with all 236 passengers on board unharmed

Aviation minister inaugurates Wing India 2026 with manufacturing in focus

The event aims to highlight India's growing strength in civil aviation manufacturing and rising demand in the sector

Take IndiGo's vacated slots only if adding planes, MoCA tells airlines

MoCA says IndiGo's vacated airport slots will go to airlines that add aircraft and crew, not those merely reshuffling existing flights

The problem with Indian skies: New airlines won't fix competition easily

The aviation ministry has cleared three new regional airlines in a bid to spur competition. This won't be easy

Received additional info about Air India crash: Congress MP to minister

Keeping in mind the gravity of the incident and the scale of loss involved, he said it is imperative that the ministry and the concerned authorities examine the information received

Aviation ministry reviews probe panel report on IndiGo crisis: Minister

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday said the ministry is currently analysing the report submitted by the panel that probed the massive flight disruptions involving IndiGo earlier this month. While speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of an event here, he said, "The report has been submitted to the ministry. We are analysing the report, taking further comments from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and we will follow up on the action on that". According to officials, the inquiry committee, headed by DGCA Joint Director General Sanjay K Bramhane, was constituted on December 5 to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of the circumstances that led to the massive flight disruptions. The committee had submitted its report on Friday evening. Earlier this month, IndiGo cancelled more than 1,600 flights in a single day, followed by several days of bulk cancellations. The inadequate planning in implementing the revised pilot rest norms was cited a

Civil aviation minister flags off next-generation helicopter Dhruv NG

Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday flagged off the inaugural flight of the next-generation civil helicopter Dhruv NG, designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to meet the requirements of the civil aviation market. Before take-off from HAL here, the minister joined the pilot in the cockpit to gain firsthand insight into the helicopter's advanced systems and features. According to HAL officials, Dhruv NG, a sophisticated 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter engineered to master the diverse and demanding requirements of the Indian terrain is specifically upgraded to meet the rigorous demands of the global civil aviation market. The helicopter, which represents a milestone in indigenous rotary-wing capability, has been designed for enhanced safety, performance, and passenger comfort. The helicopter is equipped with twin Shakti 1H1C engines, providing enhanced power ratings and the advantage of internal maintenance capabilities within India. It

After IndiGo crisis, Centre clears two new airlines to lift competition

The Centre has granted NOCs to two new airlines amid efforts to boost competition and avoid repeat disruptions following the cancellation of over 4,000 IndiGo flights earlier this month

IndiGo to start compensating passengers for flight disruptions next week

Civil aviation ministry has directed the airline to begin compensating passengers hit by mass flight cancellations earlier this month; IndiGo has said ₹10,000 vouchers will be issued starting Dec 26

Govt directs airlines to ensure passenger support amid delays due to fog

Amid flight disruptions due to fog and low visibility conditions, the civil aviation ministry on Friday directed airlines to strictly comply with facilitation requirements for passengers and ensure adequate staffing at airports. Hundreds of flights are getting delayed and many are being cancelled due to dense fog at various airports, including Delhi's IGIA. In an office memorandum, the ministry mentioned about mandatory compliance with passenger facilitation requirements during fog and low-visibility conditions. According to the ministry, there should be timely and accurate information about flights, meals and refreshments for extended delays, rebooking or refunds in case of cancellations and boarding should not be denied after timely check-in. "Where adverse weather prevents operations despite reasonable efforts, airlines shall clearly inform passengers about the nature of disruption and the measures being undertaken. "Appropriate passenger entitlements (refreshments, reschedulin

Govt revived many pre-independence airstrips into airports: Rammohan Naidu

The central government has revived and turned many pre-independence airstrips into operational airports which are being used by the airlines under the Udan scheme, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu also said that the scheme, which aims to democratise aviation by making flying accessible and affordable for all, has already been extended by 10 more years. "There were 74 operational airports in 2014 which has now been increased to over 160. The government has revived and turned many pre-independence airstrips into operational airports in which airlines are flying planes under the Udan scheme," he said during Question Hour. Replying to a supplementary question, the minister said for construction of a greenfield airport, land has to be provided by the state government. If Tamil Nadu government sends a proposal for a greenfield airport in the state, the Civil Aviation Ministry can carry out a feasibility study, he told DMK member T R Baal

AAI's Mumbai radar to be moved, freeing land for affordable housing: Naidu

The Airports Authority of India's (AAI) high-frequency radar at Dahisar in Mumbai will be relocated to Gorai, unlocking hundreds of acres of land for affordable housing projects in the area, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said. This decision was taken following a meeting between various stakeholders, including the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Maharashtra government and others. Addressing the meeting virtually, Naidu on Sunday said the Civil Aviation Ministry will seek cabinet approval for the relocation so that the construction work on such projects can start at the earliest. Radar installations at Dahisar and Juhu restrict building heights. On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly that the state government had decided to shift high-frequency radar centres from Dahisar and Juhu to technically suitable alternative sites. Fadnavis said the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Union government, and the AAI had agreed to the shiftin

Naidu instructs DGCA, AAI on winter readiness amid peak travel rush

The meeting was attended by officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, Central Industrial Security Force, airport operators, and airlines

Flying soon on IndiGo? Key FAQs on refunds, delays and flight checks

With IndiGo operations stabilising after widespread cancellations, many passengers still remain unsure about refunds, delays, and flight tracking. Here are answers to the most common questions

IndiGo cancels multiple flights again, passengers stranded amid disruptions

Passengers with luggage are left with unresolved issues and incomplete flight information, with marginal assistance from the helpline service