India's domestic air passenger traffic declined over 3% in April 2026 amid rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions

India's domestic aviation sector has recorded a second consecutive monthly decline, with passenger traffic falling more than 3% in April 2026 to reach the lowest monthly count of the year. Indian carriers transported 13.8 million passengers last month compared to 14.3 million in April 2025, marking a 3.47% year-on-year decline despite the onset of the summer travel season when demand typically rises. The downturn has raised concerns across the industry as airlines grapple with surging operational costs, geopolitical disruptions, and an unexpectedly soft travel market.

The decline comes amid a sharp increase in aviation turbine fuel prices linked to ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted global energy markets and forced Indian carriers to navigate airspace restrictions and longer flight routes. Rising ATF prices have created severe financial pressure on airlines operating in a highly competitive and price-sensitive environment. For the first four months of 2026, cumulative domestic air traffic reached 57.54 million passengers, registering negligible year-on-year growth of just 0.06% compared to the same period in 2025.

Despite the industry-wide slump, IndiGo has strengthened its market position, with its share jumping to 65% in April from an average of 63% between January and March. The budget carrier transported 8.97 million passengers during the month, outperforming rivals amid challenging conditions. Meanwhile, major airlines including Air India, SpiceJet, and others saw their passenger load factors decline, with Air India experiencing a 4.6% drop and SpiceJet recording a 2.5% reduction in load factors according to regulatory data.

The weak demand has prompted airlines to recalibrate capacity deployment, with Air India announcing reductions in domestic flight frequencies between June and August whilst IndiGo has optimised operations according to market conditions. Aviation analysts have warned that the combination of elevated fuel costs, geopolitical uncertainties, and government messaging around discretionary spending could continue to weigh on passenger traffic growth in the coming months. The Indian aviation industry now faces mounting pressure to balance profitability with operational sustainability during what should traditionally be one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

02/06/2026 Swarajya

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Can Shooting Reels At Indian Airports Land You On The No-Fly List?

If you love shooting reels or making vlog content at airports, then this one is for you, as it can cost you your right to fly. Yes, you heard it right. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed strict guidelines banning unauthorised photography and shooting reels in high-security areas of airports across the country.

As per a report by The Times of India, the restrictions are intended to prevent the accidental recording and circulation of sensitive operational information. Under the new rules, passengers and visitors are prohibited from filming, photographing or shooting reels at security checkpoints, boarding gates, runway buses, runways, aircraft handling zones, and other restricted operational areas without prior permission in Indian airports.

If the authority finds someone doing the same, they may face financial penalties and, in more serious cases, have their names recommended for being included in the DGCA’s No-Fly List, leading to a temporary or permanent ban on air travel. Additionally, authorities may also seize mobile phones, cameras, or other recording devices for investigation.

As per the reports, airport officials state that the move comes in response to a rise in passengers creating social media content while travelling. In several cases, videos uploaded online have accidentally captured security arrangements, surveillance systems and staff operations, which could harm airport security even when the content appears harmless.

Security employees have been given the authority to act immediately against violators. In minor cases, passengers may be asked to delete the material on the spot; multiple violations or incidents involving sensitive security content will attract stricter action. Travellers are advised to remain mindful of the regulations at all times.

02/06/2026 Tanvi Shrivastava/Curly Tales

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Ensure timely delivery of Haj baggage, J&K CM Omar Abdullah writes to Civil Aviation Minister

 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu over difficulties being faced by Haj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia to Jammu and Kashmir after performing the annual pilgrimage.

In his letter, Omar said the pilgrims, many of whom are elderly and have undertaken the spiritual journey after years of devotion, preparation and aspiration, have expressed “considerable concern regarding the arrangements made for the transportation of their checked-in baggage upon their return.”

“It has been learnt that due to ongoing maintenance works and operational constraints at Srinagar Airport, the checked-in baggage of the pilgrims could not be transported on the same flights carrying them back to Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

“The baggage is being routed separately and transported by road from Ahmedabad, which is expected to result in a significant delay in its delivery to the pilgrims after their arrival,” Omar added.

The Chief Minister said the situation has caused considerable disappointment and inconvenience to the returning Hajis and their families.

02/06/2026 Tribune

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Srinagar Airport To Remain Closed Twice A Week From July To September

Srinagar: Flight operations at Srinagar airport will face major disruptions as the authorities have decided to close the airport twice a week for three months and completely shut down airport operations for another 15 days in October. Officials say essential maintenance of the runway has necessitated the closure of flight operations.

The partial closure of the airport will start from July 1 to September 30. From October 1, flight operations will remain completely suspended for a fortnight.

The airport will remain completely shut for flights for a fortnight from when the repair work on the central part of the runway is taken up.

Javed Anjum, Airport Director, said the passenger flight operations will be suspended on Monday and Tuesday every week in the months of July, August and September to carry out repair maintenance and expansion of the runway. He said a complete suspension of flight operations will start on October 1 when work on the central part of the runway will be carried out.

"It's after a gap of 15 years maintenance of runway is being carried out. Last time it was in 2011. For three months, flights will be suspended for two days a week. But when work on the central part of the runway is taken up, no flight operations will be possible during that time. So, all the flight operations are suspended from Srinagar airport between October 1 to October 15," said Mr Anjum.

Earlier, a NOTAM, or notice to airmen, by the Indian Air Force had already restricted flight operations at Srinagar Airport. According to the NOTAM, flights can operate between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. This has led to the suspension of all the late evening and early morning flights at Srinagar airport.

02/06/2026 Nazir Masoodi/NDTV

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Two flights diverted due to severe weather in Indore

Indore: Sudden severe weather conditions and operational scale back caused major disruptions for air passengers at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport.

On Sunday afternoon, strong winds and dust storms starting around 3:30 pm forced air traffic control to halt landing due to safety concerns. IndiGo flight 6E 813 from Goa was diverted to Vadodara at 4:24 pm. Concurrently, Air India Express flight IX 2014 from Bengaluru was diverted to Ahmedabad.

Both flights returned to Indore after 6:30 pm once weather conditions stabilised, causing significant delay for travellers.

Outbound flights from the city were also delayed by approximately 30 minutes during the storm.

In another development reportedly driven by rising fuel costs and capacity management, Air India discontinued four of its daily flights between Indore and Delhi starting June 1. The reduction halves Air India’s daily operations on this route, cutting services from four daily flights to two.

02/06/2026 Times of India

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Gadkari endorses AID demand for restoration of AI flights

 Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and AID Patron Nitin Gadkari has personally intervened and written to Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran seeking immediate restoration of the canceled flights of Air India flights from Nagpur. In his letter, Gadkari strongly endorsed the representation submitted by AID President Ashish Kale emphasizing that Nagpur is a rapidly growing economic, industrial and logistics hub whose connectivity cannot be compromised.

 He emphasized that the cancellation and reduction of flights, especially on the vital Nagpur-Mumbai sector, could adversely affect business travel, industrial activity, investment prospects and passenger convenience. Gadkari highlighted that Mumbai is the country’s financial capital and a key destination for business, administration and industry. He urged Air India to reconsider its decision and restore at least one Nagpur-Mumbai flight at the earliest in the larger interest of regional connectivity, economic growth and public convenience. AID, in its representation, expressed concern over the reduction in Air India services and its likely impact on passengers, investors and industries across Vidarbha. The association noted that Nagpur is rapidly emerging as a major investment destination and that strong air connectivity is essential to sustain the region's growth momentum.

02/06/2026 Hitavada

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Air India Express starts direct flights to Phuket from Bengaluru

Bengaluru: After IndiGo and Akasa Air, Air India Express Monday launched a direct flight to Phuket in Thailand from Bengaluru.

The Phuket connection will be weekend centric – a Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft will fly out of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) at 10:35am Mondays and Saturdays, reaching Phuket by 3:50pm. On Fridays, the flight will take off at 11.25am and Sundays, 11:15am, with a single-direction journey taking 3 hours and 45 minutes.

This is Air India Express’s second destination in Thailand after its daily Bengaluru-Bangkok service, which was introduced in Oct last year.

After the cancellation of an Air India Express flight to Pune, several passengers had to alter their travel plans Monday morning.

Flight AI 9806, scheduled to take off from Bengaluru at 5.35pm and reach Pune at 7.20pm, was cancelled. However, the schedule became much more complicated as it was also a connecting flight for passengers from across the country flying to Pune.

02/06/2026 Times of India

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Air India opens new lounge at Delhi airport, set to open next in San Francisco, New York

It is an exciting time for Air India and the changes will manifest in the air as well as on the ground this year, the airline's chief Campbell Wilson said as the Tata Group-owned carrier opened its new lounge at the Delhi airport.

The airline will also be opening lounges in San Francisco, New York and other cities. Spread across 16,000 square feet, the Maharaja Lounge at the Delhi airport can accommodate around 300 guests in 'Business' and 'First Class' sections.

In a brief interaction with PTI after the opening of the lounge on Thursday evening, Wilson said it is an "exciting time" for Air India and 2026 is the year when the changes will "really manifest in the air" and on the ground as he mentioned about retrofit of wide-body planes.

"By the end of this year we'll have about half, a little bit more than half of our wide-body aircraft upgraded to a new standard. It will take another 18-24 months beyond that to complete the rest of the fleet (upgrade)... but increasingly we will have a very much more consistent world-class experience on Air India.

It is an exciting time for Air India and the changes will manifest in the air as well as on the ground this year, the airline's chief Campbell Wilson said as the Tata Group-owned carrier opened its new lounge at the Delhi airport.

The airline will also be opening lounges in San Francisco, New York and other cities. Spread across 16,000 square feet, the Maharaja Lounge at the Delhi airport can accommodate around 300 guests in 'Business' and 'First Class' sections.

In a brief interaction with PTI after the opening of the lounge on Thursday evening, Wilson said it is an "exciting time" for Air India and 2026 is the year when the changes will "really manifest in the air" and on the ground as he mentioned about retrofit of wide-body planes.

"By the end of this year we'll have about half, a little bit more than half of our wide-body aircraft upgraded to a new standard. It will take another 18-24 months beyond that to complete the rest of the fleet (upgrade)... but increasingly we will have a very much more consistent world-class experience on Air India.

"It is an exciting time and I think the new Air India is starting to become visible," he said.

In a statement on Friday, Wilson said the new lounge at the Delhi airport is a significant milestone in the airline's transformation journey and that its strategic expansion plans include substantial investments to build more such platforms across countries that it flies to.

02/06/2026 PTI/Telegraph

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Tripura minister seeks direct Agartala-Mumbai flight connectivity

Tripura Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has urged the Centre to introduce direct flight services between Agartala and Mumbai, highlighting the growing need for improved air connectivity between the northeastern state and India's financial capital.

In a letter addressed to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Chowdhury drew attention to his earlier communication on the issue and reiterated the importance of establishing a direct air link between the two cities.

The minister noted that Tripura, as a strategically important northeastern state, requires stronger connectivity with major metropolitan centres. He pointed out that Mumbai serves as a key destination for trade, healthcare, education, tourism and employment, making it an important hub for residents of Tripura.

According to Chowdhury, passengers travelling between Agartala and Mumbai currently have to rely on connecting flights involving long transit hours, causing inconvenience to students, patients, businesspersons and government officials.

He said a direct flight service would significantly improve regional connectivity, facilitate travel and contribute to the state's socio-economic development.

02/06/2026 Tanmoy Chakraborty/India Today NE

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IndiGo, SpiceJet Shares Under Pressure As Russia Halts Jet Fuel Exports

Shares of Interglobe Aviation and SpiceJet are facing pressure in trade on Tuesday after Russia announced a temporary ban on jet fuel exports until November 30, 2026. The unexpected embargo has triggered fresh anxieties over global aviation turbine fuel (ATF) supply lines and pricing.  

In early trade, these shares reacted to the news, with Indigo currently trading with cuts of around 1% while SpiceJet shares have fallen 1.14% compared to Monday's closing price.

This comes after Moscow's decision to halt export flows - a move aimed at safeguarding the country's domestic market following steep slumps in refinery output caused by recent attacks on its energy infrastrutcture. 

For Indian carriers, any upward pressure on ATF prices poses a direct risk to profitability. Jet fuel typically accounts for nearly 40% of an airline's total operational costs.

It must be noted that IndiGo is coming off a highly volatile quarter. The budget carrier reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 2,536 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2026 - a sharp reversal from the Rs 3,067.5 crore profit logged in the same period last year.

02/05/2026 NDTV Profit

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Halwara international airport damaged in first rain, probe on

Ludhiana: A civil investigation into the newly built Halwara International Airport is on after a heavy rainstorm caused parts of the terminal’s roof and ceiling to collapse, threatening passenger safety.

Saturday’s storm, which brought winds of up to 80 kmph, caused extensive damage to temporary structures around the departure area and ticketing counters. Water leaked heavily through multiple sections of the terminal building, causing significant disruption for airport staff.

The incident sparked public outrage and raised questions over construction quality after videos of the leaking and damaged interior emerged online.

Ludhiana deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain ordered the additional deputy commissioner of Jagraon to lead a detailed inquiry into the structural failure. “The agency responsible for the facility is under orders to undertake immediate repair and restoration work so that passengers do not face any inconvenience,” Jain said.

The union minister of state for railways and city’s former Lok Sabha member, Ravneet Singh Bittu, criticised the construction standards on social media, sharing a video of the water damage.

“This is extremely unfortunate news that Halwara International Airport failed to withstand even the first spell of rain,” Bittu said. “Strict action should be taken against the PWD officials and the contractor for the allegedly negligent construction work and for endangering human lives.”

01/06/2026 Shariq Majeed/Times of India

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Bengaluru airport wins top global safety honour, bags ACI Diamond Award for runway safety excellence

 Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has received the Diamond Award, the highest distinction at the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East Safety Recognition Awards 2026, strengthening its position among leading airports globally for aviation safety and operational resilience.

The recognition comes as airports across the region focus increasingly on safety systems and operational preparedness amid growing passenger traffic and rising complexity in aviation operations.

 The award specifically acknowledges Bengaluru airport’s efforts in strengthening runway safety through innovation-driven and collaborative practices.

The ACI Safety Recognition Awards honour airports that have demonstrated strong safety culture and introduced practical and effective solutions to improve safety management. The Diamond Award is the highest category under the programme and recognises sustained excellence in operational safety.

According to airport officials, the recognition was driven by BLR Airport’s runway safety initiatives, led by its Runway Safety Team (RST), which works through a data-driven and ecosystem-based approach involving multiple stakeholders.

Among the measures highlighted were the development of an indigenous Runway Safety Maturity Matrix, hotspot mitigation strategies, pilot awareness initiatives, advanced Foreign Object Debris (FOD) management systems and continuous interventions aimed at improving airside safety and operational efficiency.

01/06/2026 Shekhar Singh/Tribune

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Delhi–Srinagar SpiceJet Flight Delayed, Passengers Express Frustration

Srinagar: Passengers travelling from Delhi to Srinagar on a SpiceJet flight on Monday complained of inconvenience after their flight was delayed, forcing them to wait at the airport for several hours.

 According to passengers, SpiceJet flight SG-160, scheduled to depart from Delhi at 7:05 am and arrive in Srinagar at 10:05 am, did not leave on time, causing uncertainty among travellers.

 "We were informed about the delay after reaching the airport. There was no clear information initially about when the flight would depart," said a passenger waiting at the terminal.

 Another traveller said the delay disrupted onward travel plans in Kashmir.

 "I had arranged transport from Srinagar airport and informed my family about my arrival time. The delay has affected all those arrangements," the passenger said.

Several passengers said they spent hours waiting inside the airport lounge and sought regular updates from airline staff.

01/06/2026 Kashmir News Service

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Nagpur-bound IndiGo flight makes emergency landing at Hyderabad, another cancelled

 Nagpur: An IndiGo flight en route to Nagpur made an emergency landing at Hyderabad airport and another flight was cancelled due to technical issues in the last two days.

In the first incident, the pilot of an IndiGo flight operating from Bengaluru to Nagpur on Saturday reportedly suspected a malfunction midflight. The pilot immediately informed air traffic authorities and sought permission to land at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, said sources.

At Hyderabad, technical teams inspected the aircraft upon arrival and attended to the fault. All 126 passengers on board were reported to be unharmed.

Sources said the issue was minor and was rectified the same day. The aircraft was reportedly in Hyderabad till the filing of this report.

While airline officials confirmed that passenger safety was never compromised, the exact nature of the technical snag has not been disclosed. They said a detailed examination will be conducted to ascertain the cause of malfunction and ensure that all systems are functioning normally.

01/06/2026 Sumukh Kulkarni/Times of India

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India keeps local jet fuel prices unchanged after airline plea

India’s state-owned oil refiners have kept jet fuel prices steady for local flights following a plea from airlines to hold off on further hikes as they grapple with the fallout from the Iran war.

The fuel price for domestic flights will remain unchanged at Rs 104,927 a kiloliter in New Delhi for June, according to spokespeople from the state oil processors. In April, the cost of so-called aviation turbine fuel was raised by 8.6 percent, with the government requiring they stay constant in May.

Refiners also provided additional relief to Indian airlines by reducing jet fuel prices for international flights, although the spokespeople didn’t immediately provide details on the size of the cut.

Last month, India’s airlines asked refiners including Indian Oil Corp. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. to halt price increases for local flights until the end of the war, according to a Bloomberg News report. Key carriers have been forced to reduce flights through March and April due to depressed demand in the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, after passing on elevated costs to fliers in the form of higher fares.

01/06/2026 Bloomberg/ET Hospitality World

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India’s BluJ Targets Regional Mobility With Cargo-First Strategy

Indian startup BluJ Aerospace is developing a family of electric and hydrogen-electric VTOL aircraft aimed first at cargo and logistics missions, with passenger service planned as a longer-term goal.

Founded in 2022 by aerospace engineers Maruthi Amardeep Sri Vatsavaya and Utham Kumar Dharmapuri, the Hyderabad-based company has flown two battery-electric prototypes and is developing a hydrogen-electric propulsion system for longer-range variants.

The company’s near-term focus is Reach, an autonomous cargo aircraft designed to carry a 200-kg (440.9-lb.) payload while remaining below a 500-kg maximum takeoff weight. BluJ is targeting certification of Reach in the next 12 months and commercialization within 12-18 months, Dharmapuri said.

The aircraft employs a lift-plus-cruise configuration featuring six lift rotors mounted on twin booms connecting a larger forward wing to a slightly smaller aft wing. Two tractor propellers mounted beneath the forward wing provide thrust. A central cargo pod forms the fuselage, with a large forward-opening nose section providing direct access to the payload compartment. The aircraft sits on fixed landing gear and lacks a conventional tail.

BluJ’s founders say the company was created to address regional mobility challenges in India and other markets where ground infrastructure is less developed. But the company narrowed its initial focus to logistics after concluding that cargo operations would provide a more realistic path to deployment than passenger service.

“We felt that logistics is a better path to operations because there’s a real problem today to solve, especially in countries like India,” Dharmapuri said. “We thought for us the gateway to passenger operations would also be logistics.”

01/06/2026 Ben Goldstein/Aviation Week

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India Holds Jet Fuel Prices Steady After Airline Plea

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India's state-owned oil refiners have kept jet fuel prices steady for local flights following a plea from airlines to hold off on further hikes as they grapple with the fallout from the Iran war. 

The fuel price for domestic flights will remain unchanged at 104,927 rupees ($1,104.25) a kiloliter in New Delhi for June, according to spokespeople from the state oil processors. In April, the cost of so-called aviation turbine fuel was raised by 8.6%, with the government requiring they stay constant in May.

Refiners also provided additional relief to Indian airlines by reducing jet fuel prices for international flights, although the spokespeople didn't immediately provide details on the size of the cut.

“The aviation turbine fuel prices are determined based on international benchmark rates,” Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the oil ministry told reporters at a media briefing on Monday. Yet, oil marketing companies are still losing 30 rupees on every liter of jet fuel sold in the domestic market, she said.  

Last month, India's airlines asked refiners including Indian Oil Corp. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. to halt price increases for local flights until the end of the war, according to a Bloomberg News report. Key carriers have been forced to reduce flights through March and April due to depressed demand in the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, after passing on elevated costs to fliers in the form of higher fares.

01/02/2026 Bloomberg/NDTV Profit

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India’s domestic air traffic drops as April passenger numbers decline: DGCA

Indian carriers flew 13.8 million domestic passengers in April, down 3.47 pc from 14.3 million in April last year. It was also lower than March, when airlines flew 14.4 million people, a drop of 4.2 pc in just one month, says the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in its monthly traffic report.

The DGCA says that from January to April, Indian carriers flew 57.5 million passengers. In the same period last year, they had carried 57.5 million, translating into a marginal growth of 0.06 pc.

This marks a steep fall in growth for a sector that was growing at 7 to 10 pc every year for most of the last decade.

In 2014, India flew around 70 million domestic passengers in a full year. By 2019, that had grown to 137 million. Low fares, new budget carriers, and the UDAN scheme connecting smaller towns all pushed numbers up. The country had 74 airports in 2014 and 163 by late 2025.

The report says that Covid shut everything down in 2020. However, the recovery after that was strong. In April 2023, a single day set a record with 456,082 people flying on domestic routes. The full year 2025 came in at 166.9 million passengers, up 3.48 pc from 161.3 million in 2024.

On the market share side, low-cost carrier IndiGo, now holds 65 pc of all domestic passengers, up from 63.3 pc in March, two out of every three people flying domestically in India chose IndiGo in April. The airline also had the best on-time performance at 88.5 pc across ten airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Guwahati and Lucknow.

Tata Group carrier Air India was second at 24.7 pc, down from 26.2 pc in March, with on-time performance of 82.4 pc. India’s newest airline Akasa Air was at 5.8 pc, up slightly from 5.4 pc the month before, says the report.

SpiceJet was at 3.4 pc in April, down from 3.8 pc in March. Its on-time performance was 31.2 pc, meaning less than one in three flights arrived on time. In January 2023, SpiceJet had 7.3 pc of the market. It has lost more than half that share in three years through financial trouble, grounded aircraft and an emergency fundraise of INR 30 billion that has not visibly improved things for passengers. Alliance Air dropped to 0.3 pc from 0.6 pc.

01/06/2026 Media India Group

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RGIA passenger traffic falls 15% in April

HYDERABAD: Passenger traffic at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad, fell 15.1% year-on-year in April, reflecting the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict, widespread flight disruptions across Gulf countries, and a surge in airfares that dampened both domestic and international travel demand. Despite the setback, Hyderabad airport remains in fourth position in total passenger traffic, trailing behind airports in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

According to data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the airport handled 22.49 lakh passengers in April, a decline of 15.1% compared with 26.49 lakh passengers recorded in April last year. The downturn was driven by weakness in both international and domestic segments, with overseas travel taking a particularly severe hit.

International passenger traffic fell 19.6% year-on-year to 3.40 lakh passengers in April 2026, down from 4.23 lakh passengers during the corresponding month last year.

The decline follows a similar trend seen in March 2026, when international traffic dropped 24.8% compared to March 2025, highlighting the sustained impact of disruptions on key Gulf routes that account for a significant share of Hyderabad’s international connectivity.

Domestic travel also slowed considerably. The airport handled 19.09 lakh domestic passengers in April 2026, compared with 22.25 lakh a year earlier, registering a decline of 14.2%. In March 2026, domestic traffic had already contracted by 9.5% year-on-year.

The fall in passenger volumes was mirrored in aircraft movements. Total flight movements at Hyderabad airport declined 13.4% year-on-year to 15,829 in April 2026 from 18,285 in April 2025.

01/06/2026 Siddardha Gattimi/New Indian Express

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New Noida to get direct connectivity to airport; villages and sectors to be linked through 72-km expressway

New Delhi: Rapidly developing New Noida (DNGIR) is set to receive direct connectivity to the Noida International Airport. A plan has been prepared for a nearly 72-kilometre-long link expressway that will connect the Ganga Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway. The expressway will pass through Bulandshahr, with a major portion running through the proposed New Noida region and its villages. This will provide improved transportation facilities to millions of residents and make access to the airport much easier.

Satish Pal, Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) of the Noida Authority, said that a rotary/interchange is planned on the proposed link expressway to connect New Noida directly to the route. The proposal will soon be presented before the Authority's board meeting. Once the rotary is developed, most villages and proposed sectors of New Noida will have direct access to the link expressway, significantly reducing travel time to Noida International Airport.

Kranti Shekhar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Authority, stated that where roads already exist around the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, land acquisition from farmers will be carried out through mutual agreement. A site office for New Noida will also be established in this area. He added that roads currently 18 meters wide will be expanded to 24 meters in accordance with the master plan, requiring additional land from nearby villages.

According to the Authority, establishing better connectivity between New Noida and the existing Noida is among its top priorities. New link roads may be developed in the future to directly connect New Noida's internal road network with Noida. The New Noida project will be developed over a total area of 209.11 square kilometers and will be completed in four phases.

01/06/2026  Tahir Qureshi/India.com

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Hajj flight redirected for Ahamedabad stopover due to Srinagar airport restrictions, baggage curbs for returning pilgrims

New Delhi: Due to a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) issued for Srinagar Airport and ongoing runway maintenance resulting in temporary runway length restrictions, payload limitations have been imposed on aircraft operations in the interest of flight safety, according to the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

To avoid disruption to Hajj flight schedules and minimise inconvenience to pilgrims, the return journey of Hajj pilgrims operated by Akasa Airlines to the Srinagar Embarkation Point has been planned via Ahmedabad with 35 kg check-in baggage allowance up to Ahmedabad.

Thereafter, 5 kg check-in baggage per pilgrim will be carried on the Ahmedabad-Srinagar flight, while the remaining 30 kg baggage will be transported separately by road to Srinagar. There is no change in the cabin baggage allowance.

These arrangements have been necessitated solely by airport operational constraints and aviation safety requirements. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Hajj Committee of India and J&K State Hajj Committee are in constant coordination with all stakeholders to ensure the safe, smooth and dignified return of pilgrims.

Safety cannot be compromised, and all decisions have been taken in the best interests of the pilgrims, the ministry stated.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, an Akasa Air flight operating from Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar was diverted to Lucknow on Wednesday due to adverse weather conditions that were not suitable for landing, and later landed safely at its destination.

01/06/2026 ANI/Economic Times

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Over 200 flyers hassled after 2 Air India Express flights delayed by 7 hours

Pune: Over 200 passengers suffered major inconvenience after two separate flights of Air India Express – IX-2913 and IX-1098 – were delayed by over seven hours during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

While the Bengaluru-Pune flight AI Express IX-2913 was delayed by over 8 hours, the Pune to Bhubaneswar flight IX-1098 recorded a delay of over 7 hours.

The Pune-bound flight from Bengaluru was scheduled to take off at 5:35 pm on Saturday. It, however, flew at 2.15am on Sunday. On the other hand, the Bhubaneswar-bound flight from Pune took off at 4.45am on Sunday, seven hours and 35 minutes after its scheduled departure of 9.10pm. Despite raising a query, the airline did not confirm to TOI whether the same aircraft was scheduled to fly both the flights.

A flyer on board the Bengaluru-Pune flight said the airline stated that bad weather was delaying the flight. “We, however, could see that flights of other airlines were flying without any problems. There was an issue with some seats, as it seemed that more than one passenger was allotted the same seats. It was a nightmare considering that I was at the Bengaluru airport by 3pm for the flight. As the airport was very far away from the city, I and many other flyers couldn’t go back,” he said, requesting anonymity.

Nilay, another flyer, vented his frustration on social media. “Absolute chaos in Bangalore. The Air India Express flight to Pune, scheduled for 5.35pm, is now showing 12.55am. No assurance that the flight will take off. Will you please intervene and do your duty towards passengers?” He wrote on X tagging the civil aviation minister.

01/06/2026 Joy Sengupta/Times of India

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Why IndiGo shares jumped 5% despite posting ₹2,537 crore Q4 loss

Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, surged over 5% in early trade on Monday as investors cheered the airline's March-quarter earnings announced after market hours on Friday.

Despite reporting a loss in the March quarter amid heightened volatility, the stock gained momentum as the results met market expectations. The airline's profitability was impacted by a spike in crude oil prices due to the West Asia conflict, which led to higher fuel expenses, increased foreign-exchange losses, and elevated operating costs.

Reacting to Q4 numbers, IndiGo shares rose as much as 5.16% to ₹4,633.45 on the BSE after opening at ₹4,612.20, compared with Friday's closing price of ₹4,406.05.

At the time of reporting, the aviation stock was trading 3.6% higher at ₹4,565.65, valuing the company at around ₹1.77 lakh crore. The country's most valuable airline stock hit a 52-week high of ₹6,225.05 on August 18, 2025, and a 52-week low of ₹3,894.80 on March 23, 2026.

IndiGo shares have declined around 10% so far in calendar year 2026 and over 14% in the past year. However, the stock has gained more than 7% over the last month.

InterGlobe Aviation reported a consolidated net loss of ₹2,536.9 crore in the March quarter (Q4 FY26), compared with a profit in the year-ago period, as a sharp rise in foreign-exchange losses, exceptional charges, and higher operating costs outweighed modest revenue growth.

Revenue from operations rose 1.3% year-on-year to ₹22,438.4 crore, while total income increased 3.2% to ₹23,830.7 crore. However, total expenses surged 30.1% to ₹25,932.5 crore, resulting in a pre-tax loss of ₹2,351.7 crore.

01/06/2026 Chitranjan Kumar/Fortune India

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UAE to India travellers warned: Airport selfies and reels could lead to no-fly list action

Dubai: For UAE residents travelling to India, that quick airport selfie or travel vlog could now carry stricter consequences. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced stricter rules on photography and videography at airports across India, warning that unauthorised filming in restricted zones could lead to fines, device confiscation and, in serious cases, placement on the no-fly list, according to media reports.

The move comes amid a surge in social media content being created inside airports, including reels, vlogs and livestreams that authorities say may unintentionally expose sensitive operational and security information.

Penalties can range from fines and device confiscation to, in serious cases, inclusion on the no-fly list.

Frequent UAE–India flyers, including tourists, business travellers and those visiting family, should be aware that filming is now strictly prohibited in restricted airport areas unless prior permission is obtained.

While photography is still allowed in public spaces such as terminals and lounges, authorities are urging caution as even brief unauthorised recordings in operational zones could lead to enforcement action.

01/06/2026 Lekshmy Pavithran/Gulf News

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3 Reasons Foreign Airlines Now Command a Bigger Share of India's International Traffic

Foreign airlines have strengthened their grip on India’s international aviation market, increasing their passenger share to 57.6 per cent in the March quarter of FY26, while Indian carriers’ share slipped to 42.4 per cent, according to the latest data from DGCA.

The shift comes at a time when Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo are aggressively expanding their overseas networks and adding capacity. However, a combination of geopolitical disruptions and structural market factors has worked in favour of foreign carriers.

1. Iran War Disrupted a Key International Market

The conflict involving Iran emerged as one of the biggest challenges for Indian airlines during the quarter. The war led to airspace restrictions and operational disruptions across West Asia, a region that accounts for a large chunk of India’s international passenger traffic.

Indian carriers have significantly increased their exposure to Gulf destinations over the past few years and therefore faced a greater impact from flight disruptions, schedule changes and weaker travel demand on affected routes.

As a result, Indian airlines were unable to fully capitalise on demand growth in one of their most important international markets, allowing foreign carriers to gain market share.

2. Pakistan Airspace Closure Increased Costs for Indian Airlines

Indian carriers continue to take longer flight routes due to Pakistani airspace restrictions, which have remained in place since India’s strikes into the South Asian country in 2025 following a terrorist attack in India in Pahalgam last year. The closure has forced Indian airlines to take longer routes for several westbound international flights, particularly services to Europe, North America and parts of the Middle East.

Indian carriers have significantly increased their exposure to Gulf destinations over the past few years and therefore faced a greater impact from flight disruptions, schedule changes and weaker travel demand on affected routes.

As a result, Indian airlines were unable to fully capitalise on demand growth in one of their most important international markets, allowing foreign carriers to gain market share.

2. Pakistan Airspace Closure Increased Costs for Indian Airlines

Indian carriers continue to take longer flight routes due to Pakistani airspace restrictions, which have remained in place since India’s strikes into the South Asian country in 2025 following a terrorist attack in India in Pahalgam last year. The closure has forced Indian airlines to take longer routes for several westbound international flights, particularly services to Europe, North America and parts of the Middle East.

01/06/2026 News18

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Foreign airlines gain ground in India as geopolitical disruptions hit domestic carriers

Foreign airlines widened their lead in India's international passenger market in the March quarter of FY26, as Indian carriers lost ground amid operational disruptions and weaker traffic growth.

Indian airlines carried about 8.09 million international passengers during the quarter, accounting for 42.4 percent of the international traffic, down around one percent from the year-ago period, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data shows. In March FY25, domestic carriers transported 8.96 million passengers.

Foreign airlines expanded their share by 3.9 percent to 57.6 percent. Overseas carriers ferried 11.01 million passengers on routes connecting India during the quarter, rising from 10.38 million a year earlier.

The numbers underscore the challenge facing Indian airlines, as they seek to increase their presence on international routes despite aggressive fleet expansion plans and network growth strategies.

The quarter was particularly difficult for domestic carriers because of a combination of geopolitical and operational challenges that affected international travel demand and flight schedules across several markets.

The Iran war emerged as the biggest disruption, leading to airspace restrictions and operational challenges across West Asia, one of India's most important international aviation markets.

01/06/2026 Swaraj Baggonkar/Moneycontrol

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Rolls-Royce charts India expansion with MRO plans

British engineering major Rolls-Royce is evaluating multiple long-term opportunities in India, including the establishment of a civil aviation engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, an aero gas turbine complex and participation in the country’s emerging small modular reactor (SMR) ecosystem. The plans underline the company’s broader ambition to expand its footprint across aerospace, defence and energy sectors in the country.

According to Sashi Mukundan, Executive Vice President, Transformation India at Rolls-Royce, the company sees growing demand for engine support services as Indian airlines continue to expand their fleets. With Air India and IndiGo having placed substantial orders for Airbus A350 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines, the company believes local MRO capabilities will become increasingly important. At present, engines from India are serviced at facilities in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Rolls-Royce indicated that establishing an engine MRO facility in India is a matter of timing rather than possibility, with future engine volumes expected to drive investment decisions. The company currently has around 100 civil aviation engines operating in India across commercial aircraft and business jets.

Alongside MRO operations, Rolls-Royce has proposed setting up an aero gas turbine complex in India with technology transfer support from the UK government. The facility would initially focus on military aircraft engines and could later be expanded to serve dual-use and civil aviation applications. The proposal aligns with India’s efforts to develop indigenous propulsion technologies for future defence programmes, including the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

01/06/2026 Manufacturing Today

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