Civil Aviation Ministry

Air India pilot fails 2nd drug test: All about Delhi-Phuket flight incident

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said on Tuesday that the number of people injured in the incident had risen to 20, excluding four cabin crew members who were also injured in the turbulence.

Air India pilot's psychoactive test needs confirmation after altitude loss

The pilot-in-command of an Air India flight that experienced a sudden loss of altitude during a Phuket-Delhi flight has undergone confirmatory testing after an initial psychoactive substance screening indicated a result requiring further analysis, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Sunday. The Airbus A320, operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, lost about 300 feet of altitude during cruise before stabilising and landing safely in Delhi. A few passengers and cabin crew members reported injuries during the incident. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members. Both flight crew members underwent mandatory psychoactive substance screening following the incident, as required under standard operating procedures. The pilot-in-command's sample was sent to a designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, with the final report awaited, the ministry said in a statement. The incident has been classified as a serious incident a

No proposal to blend ethanol with ATF, says Civil Aviation Minister Naidu

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Thursday said there is no proposal to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) and that spreading misinformation on aviation safety creates needless anxiety among air travellers. His comments come against the backdrop of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claiming that the central government was planning to blend ethanol in ATF. "Sources indicate that the Modi government plans to mix ethanol in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Experts say that this could seriously compromise the safety of flights," Kejriwal said in a post on X. Naidu said the claim that the government plans to blend ethanol with ATF is completely false and irresponsible and added that there is no such proposal. "Spreading misinformation on aviation safety only creates needless anxiety among air travellers. Passenger safety remains the Government's highest priority," the minister said in a post on X. Elaborating, Naidu said ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel

India's airport passenger handling capacity crosses 580 million: Govt

The total annual passenger handling capacity at airports in the country has increased to more than 580 million, the government said on Monday. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the Rajya Sabha that capacity augmentation and modernisation projects are undertaken from time to time by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport operators based on traffic growth, operational requirements, airline demand, financial viability and techno-economic considerations. "As a result of these initiatives, the total passenger-handling capacity at airports across the country has been enhanced to over 580 million passengers per annum (MPPA), while passenger traffic handled during 2025-26 was about 420 million," he said in a written reply. Currently, there are 166 airports in the country. The ministry has given 'In-Principle' approval for setting up 25 greenfield airports, and out of them, 14 airports have been operationalised, Mohol said. In a separate written rep

Govt plans 44 airports for Hub and Spoke flights to boost connectivity

The government aims to have a total of 44 airports, including 4 hub airports, to provide seamless international air connectivity, a senior government official said on Tuesday. Air India on Tuesday launched flights under the Hub and Spoke model from Amritsar, the second airport after Varanasi from where such fights have been started. Presently, there is one hub airport -- Delhi -- and two spoke airports -- Varanasi and Amritsar. The next spoke airport will be Ahmedabad. The model, that seeks to make India a global aviation hub, will enable seamless connectivity between Tier-II and Tier-III airports with international destinations through hub airports. Passengers arriving from smaller cities will be routed through major hub airports such as Delhi for onward international connections. At a function at the Amritsar airport to mark the launch of Hub and Spoke model flights, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said 4 hubs and 40 airports would be developed. From Amritsar, Air In

Govt weighs easing rules to allow airport operators to own airlines

Government is considering relaxing ownership rules that could allow airport operators such as Adani Group and GMR Airports to own airlines, aiming to boost competition in the domestic aviation market

Navi Mumbai Airport aims to hit over 1 mn passengers a month from Nov

The airport, which started commercial flights only at the end of December 2025, has seen a threefold increase in passengers from 221,586 in March to 642,766 in May

Year on, AAIB says crash report only after full probe, international review

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said the final report on the AI171 crash will be released only after completing all investigative activities and international review processes

Air India crash report delayed as engine examination remains unfinished

A final report is expected within three months, by when studies of the GE Aerospace engines should be concluded

Country must stay alert amid West Asia crisis: Civil aviation minister

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday cautioned that the country must remain vigilant and prepared to tackle any possible fallout of the escalating crisis in West Asia, although "it is not worrisome for India at present". Naidu, during his maiden visit to Ranchi, said every sector, including civil aviation, must take responsibility and plan proactively to minimise the impact on citizens and the country. "The situation is not worrisome at present, but we need to remain alert. Every sector, including civil aviation, has to assess the impact and prepare short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies," Naidu told reporters. On concerns over rising travel costs amid global uncertainty, Naidu said the Centre had already initiated measures to shield domestic passengers from any burden. He said the government reduced aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices along with landing and parking charges at airports to stabilise fares and support the aviation sector. Last

Pilots Association flags fatigue risks, seeks urgent FDTL rollout by DGCA

The pilots' body further stated that the continued granting of variations to airline operators has significantly diluted the intent of FDTL regulations

Noida International Airport gets BCAS approval for aerodrome safety plan

Noida International Airport on Tuesday said it has received approval for its Aerodrome Safety Plan from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), marking a key step towards flight operations. The airport said it was working closely with airlines and partners to finalise a date for commencement of flight operations. "Noida International Airport has received approval for the Aerodrome Security Program (ASP) from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. This marks an important milestone in the airport's journey towards operational readiness and confirms that the security framework and procedures are in place in line with regulatory requirements," the airport said in a statement. "Following this, we will work closely with airlines and partners to finalise a mutually aligned date for the commencement of commercial operations. Our efforts remain focused on ensuring that all systems, processes, and personnel are fully prepared to deliver a safe, efficient, and seamless start of ...

Pune Airport runway restored, ops resume after IAF incident: MoS Mohol

Runway at Pune Airport was briefly shut after an aircraft of Indian Air Force made hard landing

Over 10,000 flights to West Asia cancelled since war began: MoCA joint secy

Indian carriers used to operate 300-350 daily flights to West Asia, and that number has now come down to 80-90, he said during a media briefing

Aircraft supply crunch 'hurdle' in India's aviation growth: Rammohan Naidu

India's aviation sector is facing a bottleneck in new aircraft procurement, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said, citing that while 1,700 new planes are on order, supply chain disruptions could stretch deliveries up to 15 years. The government is emphasising domestic manufacturing of aircraft through joint ventures with global giants like Embraer, and a partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is already underway to produce the Sukhoi Superjet 100, Naidu said on Sunday. He flagged off new flights at Bhavnagar airport in Gujarat. The minister remarked that building airports is not difficult once land is made available, but getting aircraft has become a major bottleneck after the COVID-19 pandemic. Aircraft manufacturing has slowed down worldwide, affecting the speed at which planes are being delivered, he noted. "After COVID-19, there were many difficulties in aircraft manufacturing. There was some disruption in the supply chain. So the speed and scale at w

Jewar Airport to boost investment, jobs, economic growth: Aviation Minister

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday said the Noida International Airport at Jewar would transform the region into a hub for employment, investment and economic growth, asserting that the project would benefit not just Uttar Pradesh but the entire country. Delivering his address in Hindi at the inauguration ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu described the occasion as a matter of pride for the nation and congratulated people on the launch of the "grand and glorious" airport. "This is a moment of great happiness not only for Jewar, Uttar Pradesh or Delhi-NCR, but for the entire country," he said, adding that the national capital had received "another heartbeat" with the development of the airport. The first phase of the airport built at a cost of around Rs 11,200 crore, the airport, with its four-kilometre-long runway, is fully equipped for international air travel, he said. Highlighting the design of the terminal, Naidu sai

DGCA releases summer schedule for domestic airlines, effective March 29

On Sunday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation decided to withdraw the temporary fare caps on domestic airfares starting Monday (March 23)

Govt to lift airfare cap from March 23 imposed after IndiGo disruptions

The Civil Aviation Ministry said it would remove the temporary cap on domestic airfares from March 23, a restriction imposed after massive flight disruptions hit IndiGo in December 2025

Madurai Airport's international status to boost region's economy: Naidu

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday said that the declaration of the Madurai Airport as Madurai International Airport will transform the region into a major economic hub driven by more trade and tourism. It would also further boost the air traffic in Madurai, he observed. "Today, with the blessings of Meenakshi Amman (Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple), the decades-old demand of Madurai has been fulfilled with the renaming of Madurai Airport as Madurai International Airport," he said. With this development, the city of Madurai would gain greater prominence on global air routes, attracting more airlines and connectivity, he said at an event to rename the Madurai Airport to Madurai International Airport. "This will further empower Madurai's cultural and spiritual legacy while transforming the region into a major economic hub driven by more trade and tourism," he said in a social media post. He remarked that the passenger footfall since 2014 at Madurai

Airlines making operational arrangements amid West Asia crisis: MoCA

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and their potential implications for air travel between India and the region. It also said that Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu is continuously overseeing the situation and maintaining direct engagement with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure quick and coordinated responses. Data suggest that Indian carriers operated 45 inbound flights with 7,047 passengers arriving on them from West Asia on March 9, the ministry said in a statement. Airlines are making appropriate operational arrangements in response to the evolving situation, with passenger safety and continuity of services remaining the primary considerations, it said. The ministry said it is maintaining regular coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders to ensure that passenger movement continues in an orderly manner. Airfares are also being closely monitored to ensure that ticket prices remain reasona