India Aviation Traffic May Hit 500 Million By 2030

India’s aviation sector is expected to handle around 500 million passengers annually by 2030, driven by rising travel demand, fleet expansion and large-scale infrastructure development, according to officials at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).

The projection highlights the rapid pace of growth in one of the world’s fastest-expanding aviation markets, as increasing disposable incomes, stronger regional connectivity and a growing middle class continue to boost air travel demand.

Industry executives said India is also likely to handle nearly one billion passengers annually by 2047, reflecting the long-term potential of the domestic market. 

The aviation sector has seen significant momentum in recent years, with airlines placing record aircraft orders while airports across the country undertake expansion projects to meet future demand.

Navi Mumbai International Airport, one of India’s key greenfield aviation projects, is expected to play an important role in easing congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and supporting the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s growing passenger traffic.

Commercial operations at NMIA began in late 2025, with the airport currently handling around 20,000 passengers daily. That figure is expected to rise to nearly 50,000 passengers per day, alongside around 380 daily flights, by the end of 2026. 

24/04/2026 Business World

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AAI engineers' body raises concerns over proposed ATC privatisation plan

ATSEPA, an electronic engineers' body at Airports Authority of India (AAI), has raised concerns over the proposed privatisation of air traffic control services, saying that shifting control away from the Authority without establishing an autonomous regulatory entity could be perceived as a policy decision that weakens India's national strategic capabilities.

In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on April 23, Air Traffic Safety Electronic Personnel Association (India) General Secretary YP Gautam said the matter warrants urgent reconsideration at the highest policy level.

"The proposal to introduce private participation in Air Traffic Control services, without first operationalising an independent Air Navigation Services (ANS) structure, is viewed with grave concern," he said.

Stating that the matter is not exploratory, he said the carving out of ANS (ATC + CNS) from AAI has already been "deliberated, accepted in principle, and partially implemented" during the tenure of (late AAI Chairman) Guru Prasad Mohapatra.

Alleging that the rollback of that framework has resulted in the present structural inconsistency, he said, "Proceeding with privatisation in the absence of an autonomous ANS entity will be perceived as a policy decision that weakens an existing national capability rather than strengthening it".

Creating a system where ANS remains a dependent internal unit while competing with private entities will be seen as institutional disadvantage by design, the association said.

25/04/2026 PTI/Business Standard

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Airport360 Expo 2026 Concludes in Mumbai

India’s aviation sector is entering a decisive phase of growth, with airport development shifting from capacity creation to performance-driven, efficient, and passenger-centric ecosystems. Reflecting this transition, Airport360 Expo 2026 successfully concluded today at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, bringing together key stakeholders from across the global aviation landscape.

Airport360 Expo 2026 was formally opened by prominent leaders from across the aviation ecosystem, including Sharad Kumar, Chief Advisor at Airports Authority of India; B V J K Sharma, CEO of Navi Mumbai International Airport; Shankar Dey of dormakaba India; Susanta Sharma of Aurionpro; and Taher Patrawala of Media Fusion. Their presence reflected a collective commitment to strengthening airport infrastructure and improving operational preparedness across India.

Speaking on the sector’s transformation, Sharad Kumar noted that India’s aviation industry is at a critical juncture where sustained growth will depend on clear strategic direction. He highlighted global trends such as digital adoption, sustainability, and stronger linkages between aviation, logistics, tourism, and trade. He also pointed out that geopolitical uncertainties continue to influence routes, costs, and efficiency.

Offering insights on growth and infrastructure, B V J K Sharma underlined that India is already among the top global domestic aviation markets, with passenger traffic showing strong upward momentum. He emphasised that continued expansion of airports, backed by national initiatives and increasing aircraft orders, will support future demand.

25/04/2026 Machine Maker

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Noida International Airport Nears Take-Off as Indian Interim CEO Appointed; Flights to 17 Cities Likely Soon

In a crucial administrative move that could accelerate the launch of commercial flight operations, Noida International Airport has appointed Indian national Nitu Samra as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect, clearing a key regulatory hurdle that had delayed the airport’s final security clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Samra, who has been serving as Chief Financial Officer since October 2021, will hold charge until the Board appoints a full-time CEO. The appointment assumes significance as BCAS norms require the chief executive of an operational airport in India to be an Indian citizen. The absence of such compliance had emerged as one of the major reasons behind the delay in issuance of final operational security approval.

Airport officials are now hopeful that with the leadership restructuring completed, the pending BCAS clearance may be granted shortly, paving the way for commencement of passenger flight services from the much-awaited Jewar airport.

According to the airport’s initial route development plan, Noida International Airport is expected to begin operations with connectivity to nearly 17 cities, with domestic flights likely to be rolled out in the first phase.

Key domestic destinations include Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Dehradun and Hubballi, while international services are planned to destinations such as Zurich, Singapore and Dubai as the airport scales up its network. The original operational blueprint envisaged around 30 aircraft movements in the opening phase, including 25 domestic, three international and two cargo services.

This will mark the formal entry of Noida International Airport as North India’s second major civil aviation gateway after Delhi, significantly easing traffic pressure on Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Developed at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district with IATA code DXN, Noida International Airport is being positioned as a strategic greenfield aviation hub for Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh.

25/04/2026 Indian PSU

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KIA to be one of four airport hubs, easing global air travel

New Delhi: Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is part of India's plan to develop four airport hubs to enable seamless transfers mirroring those in Dubai, Doha, Singapore and Frankfurt. While the hub-and-spoke model will roll out first at Delhi IGIA from June 1, the aviation ministry has begun work on the other three: KIA, Mumbai and Rajkot Hirasar.

Once the infrastructure is in place, passengers can fly into these airports from multiple cities within India and then connect smoothly to international flights.

For instance, a passenger flying Lucknow-Delhi-London can do a check-in of baggage at Lucknow itself if both flights (Lucknow to Delhi, and Delhi to London) are of the same airline or of code-share partner carriers. This eliminates the need to collect and recheck bags at the hub. Customs and immigration processes will also be streamlined at the hub airport, making transfers more efficient than before.

While India already has modern airport infrastructure that requires tweaks, it hopes to have strong airlines, apart from IndiGo, once the Air India group gets its act together and others like Akasa grow with time.

"For each hub, we are identifying spoke partners. The idea is to ensure a passenger — flying from Raipur to Oman via Rajkot, for instance — is able to clear customs and immigration at Raipur itself and then take the connecting flight to Oman from Rajkot. The return journey will be equally smooth," said a senior official.

25/04/2026 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Air India hesitant to shift part of operations to new greenfield facility at Navi Mumbai

 Air India is hesitant to shift a part of its operations from the existing Mumbai Airport to the new greenfield facility at Navi Mumbai as it would lead to additional costs and reduced efficiencies.

According to the Tata Group airline, the aviation industry has been facing severe and unprecedented challenges amid the current geopolitical instability and "dramatic" rise in jet fuel prices, among several other operational restrictions.

After reviewing the proposal for determination of aeronautical tariffs for Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) for the first control period (April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2030), the Tata Group-owned airline, in its submission to the airport tariff regulator Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), said it "disagrees" with the assumption of strong airline demand to shift operations to the Navi Mumbai International Airport for several reasons.

"We respectfully disagree with the assumption of strong airline demand to shift operations to NMI... until sufficient volume at NMI allows efficiencies of scale, splitting operations between BOM & NMI adds costs and reduces efficiencies," the airline said.

Airline, in its submission, also said that the aeronautical charges at the new facility are "significantly higher", while insufficient connectivity limits traffic catchment.

Until future developments in connectivity (such as direct metro connection) are completed, majority of the passengers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will choose the existing Mumbai International Airport, it said, adding that at the same time, the planned closure of Terminal 1 (which operates only domestic flights) has been delayed and, in fact, will be in a phased manner.

25/04/2026 PTI/ET Infra

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Indian court extends detention of aviation official, Reliance exec in bribery case

NEW DELHI: An Indian court on Friday extended the pre-trial detention of an ​aviation regulator official and a Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), opens new tab executive to ‌May 6 in a bribery investigation linked to approvals for drone imports.

India's top crime-fighting agency said on Sunday it had arrested Mudavath Devula, ​a deputy director general of the Directorate General of ​Civil Aviation, and Reliance senior vice president Bharat ⁠Mathur, accusing them of agreeing to a $16,000 bribe to ​clear drone import applications by Asteria Aerospace, a unit of billionaire ​Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance.

The agency did not disclose the supplier of the imports.

The two men appeared briefly before a New Delhi district court on ​Friday, accompanied by officials from the Central Bureau of ​Investigation and dressed in formal shirts.

The judge ordered both to remain ‌in ⁠judicial custody until May 6.

Devula's lawyer, K. Kiran Kumar, and Mathur's counsel, Ashish Batra, told Reuters after the hearing that their clients deny all the allegations.

24/04/2026 Reuters

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Little girl runs up to CISF personnel at airport, gives him the cutest salute ever

A little girl ran up to a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at an airport and saluted him, melting hearts online with her innocent gesture of respect for the uniform.

The video was shared by the official X account of CISF, where it was posted with the caption: "Watch as a little girl offers a heartfelt salute to our personnel at the airport. It’s not just a gesture; it’s a reflection of the deep respect and pride that even our youngest citizens carry for the uniform."

They then added, writing, "When innocence meets duty, the result is pure magic. This beautiful interaction reminds us why we serve, to keep this spirit of love and security alive for the generations to come."

In the clip, the little girl was seen running towards the CISF personnel standing at the airport. He looked down at her in surprise as she suddenly stopped in front of him, raised her hand in a crisp salute, smiled brightly, and then quickly ran back to the person recording the moment, leaving him visibly touched and amused.

25/04/2026 India Today

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Indian flying school report card is out: Only two get A grade, B for 16 and 17 placed in C

Delhi: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) under the leadership of Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu has released the second phase ranking (April 2026) of the DGCA Approved Flying Training Organizations (FTOs). The ranking framework was developed under the Minister’s guidance with the first phase of the ranking getting published on 1st October 2025.

The FTO Ranking system compiled by DGCA is a landmark reform aimed at strengthening training standards, enhancing safety and promoting accountability across DGCA-approved flying training institutions. This data-driven framework ensures objective comparison and continuous monitoring of FTO performance.

Sharing his vision on the occasion, Minister said, “My core objective in introducing an FTO ranking system in the country is to make pilot training more transparent and flying a more attractive career option for the youth. Based on my interactions with aspiring cadets and their families, the idea was to institutionalize a system that brings clarity and conviction to their decision-making”.

Rankings for DGCA approved Flying Training Organization (April 2026) is as follows:

Category ‘A’

Avyanna Aviation Pvt. Ltd, Academy of Carver Aviation

Category ‘B’

Academy of Carver Aviation, FSTC Flying School Pvt. Ltd, National Flying Training Institute Pvt. Ltd, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Flytech Aviation Academy, Skynex Aero Pvt Ltd, Garg Aviation Ltd, Chetak Aviation Pvt. Ltd, Chimes Aviation Academy, Dunes Aviation Academy, Ekvi Air Training Organistaion Pvt. Ltd, Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd, Alchemist Aviation Pvt. Ltd, Ambition Flying Club, Orient Flight Aviation Academy, The Bombay Flying Club, The Gujarat Flying Club

Category ‘C’

Sha Shib Flying Academy, Indian Flying Academy, The Madhya Pradesh Flying Club, Wings Aviation Pvt ltd, Asia Pacific Training Academy, Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology, Telangana State Aviation Academy, Nagpur Flying Club, Banasthali Vidyapith Gliding & Flying Club, Bihar Flying Institute, Patiala Aviation Club, SVKM NMIMS Academy of Aviation, BlueRay Aviation Pvt Ltd, Pioneer Flying Club Academy Pvt Ltd, Govt. Aviation Training Institute, Redbird Flight Training Academy Pvt. Ltd.

24/02/2026 PIB/Indian Aviation: Careers News

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No ‘A+’ For Indian Flight Schools: Three Of Nine Maharashtra-Based FTOs Struggle With Category ‘C’ In MoCA Rankings

Mumbai: None of the flying training organisations (FTOs) in India managed to clinch the top-tier ‘A+’ category even in the second edition of the Ministry of Civil Aviation's (MoCA) performance-based ranking. While only one FTO could secure ‘A’ category, the ministry noted that all the FTOs showed improvement in their performance. At the same time, three out of the nine Maharashtra-based FTOs continued to remain in the ‘C’ category.

The bi-annual report card was released on Friday by union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidy Kinjarapu for the 35 DGCA-approved flying schools functioning across India. The report came as a sobering check for the country's pilot training infrastructure as the elite ‘A+’ bracket, reserved for FTOs scoring 85% or higher in performance, remained consistently unoccupied for the second term.

However, the April 2026 ranking reported a notable improvement from the inaugural rankings of October 2025, where no school even reached the 'A' category. This time, Rajasthan's Kishangarh-based Avyanna Aviation secured the lone ‘A’ category spot, scoring between 70% and 85% on the rigorous assessment scale.

​The ranking framework evaluates FTOs on several critical parameters like safety standards for incident-free flying hours and adherence to DGCA safety protocols, asset utilisation like efficiency of the aircraft fleet and instructor-to-student ratios, output efficiency and student satisfaction. The flying school securing above 85% is categorised as ‘A+’, between 70% to 85% as ‘A’, 50% to 70% as ‘B’ and below 50% as ‘C’. The FTOs in ‘C’ category are issued notices by the DGCA for self-analysis towards improvement of their performance.

The ministry stated that the overall ranking of Indian FTOs in this edition saw a decent improvement in comparison to the previous ranking. According to the analysis, only 17 schools remained in the ‘C’ category, against 20 in the previous edition whereas 20 FTOs secured category ‘B’, against 17 in the previous ranking.

​The rankings have cast a spotlight on regional disparities, particularly in Maharashtra, a major hub for aviation training. Out of the nine FTOs based in the state, three languish in the ‘C’ category. ​These include the Nagpur Flying Club in Nagpur and Chandrapur, SVKM’s NMIMS Academy of Aviation in Dhule, and the Redbird Flight Training Academy in Baramati. Institutions like The Bombay Flying Club in Juhu, Carver Aviation in Baramati and the government-run Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) in Gondia improved their performance to climb to the ‘B’ category.

24/04/2026 Dhairya Gajara/Free Press Journal

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How Asteria-DGCA bribery scandal clouds India's drone boom

A bribery investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has brought renewed scrutiny to the country's evolving drone ecosystem, with a focus on Asteria Aerospace, subsidiary of Reliance Industries. The agency has arrested a deputy director general from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and a senior executive linked to Reliance in connection with alleged bribery to secure approvals for drone imports.

According to the CBI's First Information Report (FIR), the accused include DGCA official M Devula and Bharat Mathur, a senior vice-president at Reliance Industries associated with Asteria Aerospace. The agency alleges that the two were caught during the exchange of a bribe amounting to ₹2.5 lakh, part of a larger arrangement where ₹5 lakh per file was allegedly agreed upon to clear pending import applications.

Searches conducted at Devula's premises reportedly led to the recovery of ₹37 lakh in cash, along with gold, silver, and multiple digital devices.

The FIR details that Mathur first approached the DGCA official in March regarding pending approvals for drone imports. A meeting reportedly took place on April 17 at the DGCA office, where assurances were given that approvals would be processed swiftly.

The alleged exchange of money was scheduled for April 18 at a location near IIT Delhi, where both individuals were apprehended.

Both individuals, along with Asteria Aerospace and other unidentified persons, have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

24/04/2026 Swati Ketkar/Mathrubhumi

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Noida International Airport elevates CFO Nitu Samra as interim CEO to start flight operations

New Delhi: Noida International Airport has appointed Nitu Samra as interim chief executive officer in an urgent stop-gap measure to start flight operations after Christoph Schnellmann was denied security clearance.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) rejected the security clearance of Schnellmann as CEO as he is not an Indian national, as ET reported on Wednesday.

Samra, who has been serving as chief financial officer of the airport, will serve as interim CEO until the company board finalises a new chief executive, the airport said in a statement on Friday.

Schnellmann, who has led the airport as CEO since August 2020, will join its board of directors as executive vice chairman.

While the airport received its aerodrome license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in March, its aerodrome security programme (ASP) has yet to be approved by BCAS.

A 2011 order by the aviation security regulator mandates that the CEO of any greenfield Indian airport shall be its security coordinator, responsible for coordinating the implementation of security measures.

"This management change brings the airport into compliance with security requirements while maintaining continuity in the airport's leadership team," said Daniel Bircher, chairman of Zurich airport-owned Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd, which is the holding company of the airport.

25/04/2026 Economic Times

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Who is Nitu Samra, interim CEO of Noida International Airport?

 Noida: Nitu Samra, a senior finance professional with over two decades of experience in corporate financial leadership, has been appointed interim Chief Executive Officer of Noida International Airport after a regulatory directive required that the airport’s top executive be an Indian national.

Her appointment follows directions from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which led to Swiss national Christoph Schnellmann stepping down as CEO. Schnellmann, who had been leading the project since 2020, will continue with the organisation as Executive Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors.

Samra has been serving as Chief Financial Officer of the airport since October 2021 and has been part of its core leadership team throughout its development phase. In her interim CEO role, she will oversee the transition as the airport moves closer to the start of commercial operations.

The airport said the leadership change ensures compliance with regulatory requirements while maintaining continuity during a critical stage of execution and commissioning.

A Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and a commerce graduate from Delhi University, Samra has held senior finance leadership roles across private sector organisations, including serving as Finance Director at LeasePlan India Pvt Ltd.

Developed by Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, Noida International Airport is among India’s largest greenfield aviation projects. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28.

24/04/2026 Mathrubhumi

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ICE Put Indian Man on Wrong Alaska Airlines Flight from Seattle to Sitka Instead of New York

Seattle: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers placed a detained Indian man on the wrong Alaska Airlines (AS) flight at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), sending him to Sitka (SIT) instead of New York City (JFK) for his voluntary departure to India.

The previously unreported May 31, 2025, incident prompted Alaska Airlines (AS) to review its safety protocols and raise the matter with the Department of Homeland Security.

Rakesh Rakesh, 25, had spent months at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma before an immigration judge granted his request for voluntary departure on May 21. Despite flight attendants alerting ICE officers that they were boarding the wrong aircraft, the agents directed the crew to continue boarding him, leading to a chain of events that added 16 extra days to his detention, the Seattle Times reported.

The incident unfolded when ICE officers bypassed the standard terminal gate process and brought Rakesh up a stairway from the airfield directly onto the jet bridge.

Federal agents are eligible for badges granting airfield access when escorting individuals in their custody, according to Port of Seattle spokesperson Perry Cooper. However, Alaska Airlines (AS) said the officers failed to follow established check-in procedures with airline gate agents before stepping onto the plane.

Had the officers checked in at the gate, they would have learned that the New York City (JFK) flight was parked adjacent to the Sitka (SIT) flight they were about to board.

Alaska Airlines spokesperson Alexa Rudin confirmed that flight attendants informed the officers they had the wrong plane, but the agents overrode the crew and directed them to board Rakesh anyway.

After the flight departed, attendants alerted the captain, a veteran Alaska Airlines (AS) pilot. When the captain informed Rakesh of the situation, the 25-year-old grew afraid, uncertain whether his voluntary departure status still stood.

The captain took personal responsibility for the stranded passenger. After the plane landed in Sitka (SIT) around 10:30 p.m., the pilot brought Rakesh to his own hotel and booked an adjacent room.

He then arranged a return flight to Seattle (SEA) the following morning and helped Rakesh book connecting flights to New York City (JFK) and onward to India. Alaska Airlines covered the hotel, meals, and all rebooking costs.

Rather than allowing Rakesh to continue his journey home, ICE agents met him when he arrived back at Seattle (SEA) and returned him to the Tacoma detention center. Rakesh said he pleaded with officers to let him leave the country, but his pleas were ignored. He went on a hunger strike for several after being redetained.

25/04/2026 Kevin Derby/AviationA2Z

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Civil Aviation Minister Reviews Readiness for Delhi Airport Hub-and-Spoke Operations

Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, today reviewed the readiness of Delhi Airport for the implementation of hub-and-spoke operations, chairing a high-level meeting with all key stakeholders at the airport. The meeting was attended by senior officials including Secretary Civil Aviation and representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Bureau of Immigration (BoI), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Customs, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), CISF, DigiYatra, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and leading airlines.

The Minister also led a delegation for an on-ground walkthrough of passenger flow systems and inspected the Security Hold Area (SHA) at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport to assess operational preparedness.

The National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, formulated under the decisive and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, laid out a clear roadmap for positioning India as an aviation hub of choice for Indian passengers by 2030 and for the world by 2047. In furtherance of this vision, the Government has developed an International Aviation Hub Strategy, under which several key measures have been undertaken. These include adopting a calibrated approach in granting Points of Call to foreign carriers, particularly for non-metro destinations, renegotiating bilateral agreements in a manner that strengthens Indian carriers and promotes domestic hubs and liberalizing domestic code-share arrangements to enable Indian airlines to expand their global reach.

During the deliberations, the Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated, “India’s unique geographical location between the eastern and western hemispheres provides a natural advantage in emerging as a global transit hub. And we have developed the strategy after extensive deliberations with all the stakeholders and I am deeply grateful to Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji for his active support in advancing the proposal.”

Elaborating on the significance of the hub-and-spoke model, the Minister stated that it will enable seamless connectivity between Tier-II and Tier-III airports developed through visionary UDAN scheme of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the international destinations. He noted that while the passengers will benefit from reduced travel time, there will also be optimal utilization of the infrastructure already developed across the country.

The Hub and Spoke Strategy represent a shift in India’s aviation landscape from being primarily an end-destination market to evolving into a global transit hub, thereby allowing Indian airports to capture a substantial share of transfer traffic that is currently routed through foreign hubs.

Sharing the Government’s hub vision, Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated, “At present, nearly 35 percent of international passengers travelling from India transit through foreign hubs such as Dubai, London and Singapore. Our aim is to reverse this trend by developing globally competitive Indian hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai.”

Mentioning the example of IGI Airport, Minister said, “Delhi Airport stands out with its capacity exceeding 100 million passengers annually, handling nearly 50 percent of the total passenger traffic in the northern region and managing around 50,000 daily transfers, thereby positioning itself as a natural hub airport.”

In addition to passenger facilitation, the strategy places strong emphasis on strengthening India’s position as a global air cargo hub. Measures such as the elimination of re-screening requirements for transshipment cargo and the digitization of cargo-related approvals and documentation processes are expected to significantly enhance efficiency and reduce turnaround times.

Highlighting the significance of the model, Minister Ram Mohan Naidu mentioned, “The hub-and-spoke model is also set to have far-reaching economic implications along with increased connectivity across regions. By 2047, the cumulative impact of this initiative is projected to generate approximately 16 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute nearly USD 1.4 trillion to the Indian economy.”

23/04/2026 PIB

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Paris Airport Group slashes stake in India's GMR in $1 billion deal

ADP, the operator of the main Paris airports, agreed to sell up to 7.3 per cent of India’s GMR Airports Ltd. as part of a deal worth as much as €924 million ($1.08 billion).

 The French group agreed to sell the stake to a vehicle connected to GMR’s founding family in a multistage deal, according to a statement confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. ADP will sell 3.4 per cent of its shares for €256 million and receive a put option to sell an additional 3.9 per cent for about €285 million.

  The family’s vehicle has also agreed to purchase convertible bonds for €301 million face value, plus accrued interest as of the date of the transaction, which is set to be completed by March 31, 2027, ADP’s statement showed. 

 Shares of GMR Airports have risen 8.4 per cent in Mumbai over the past 12 months, giving the company a market value of $10.8 billion.

ADP said its governance rights and status as a so-called co-promoter will remain on completion of the deal. The company doesn’t intend to divest any more of its stake in GMR Airports, and will use cash from the transaction for short-term deleveraging, as well as a special dividend as soon as this year.

 “ADP is taking the opportunity to crystallise part of the value of its investment, while maintaining a significant economic exposure to the future growth potential of this key asset,” ADP Chief Executive Officer Philippe Pascal said in the statement. ADP initially acquired a 49 per cent stake in GMR Airports in 2020. 

24/04/2026 Baiju Kalesh, Dinesh Nair, P R Sanjai and Vinicy Chan/Business Standard

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Indian aviation sector to handle about 500 million passengers annually by 2030: NMIA chief

Mumbai, The Indian aviation sector is estimated to handle about 500 million passengers annually by 2030 and reach nearly 1 billion by 2047, supported by sustained demand and fleet expansion, with over 1,000 aircraft orders in place, a top industry executive said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Airport 360 Expo 2026, which commenced at Bombay Exhibition Centre, the executive said that India is already among the top three domestic aviation markets globally, with passenger traffic reaching around 412 million in 2025, reflecting strong growth momentum.

"We are already one of the top three domestic aviation markets in the world, and we are continuing to grow rapidly. In 2025 itself, we handled about 4 million passengers and 3.5 million of cargo, which is around 20 per cent higher than the pre-COVID levels," Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd CEO BVJK Sharma said at the event.

The growth would be rapid, but considering that the historical growth has been 10-12 per cent, it could taper down to 5.6 per cent by 2044, he said.

"But, nevertheless, we will see about 500 million passengers very soon, probably before 2030 and a billion passengers by 2047. Our domestic air travel is expected to grow at 17 per cent to start with, year-on-year and also show a steady, very healthy demand," he said.

Infrastructure expansion is progressing at pace, with over 160 operational airports and continued investments under National programmes, he said, adding that aviation contributes nearly USD 54 billion to the economy and supports millions of jobs, with emerging segments, such as MRO, expected to play a significant role in strengthening the ecosystem.

23/04/2026 PTI/Economic Times

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How India plans to do a Dubai or Doha in Delhi: The plan for hub-and-spoke desi airports kicks of

NEW DELHI: India is finalising its hub-and-spoke policy of flying passengers between small towns and rest of the world via hub like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The move comes amid Air India and IndiGo’s massive orders for wide body aircraft; the coming of age of Indian hub airports that are gearing up for domestic-to-international and vice-versa transfers; and the biggest hubs of international travel to and from India in the Gulf like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha facing uncertainty over when the resume pre Feb 28 operations. Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu visited and secretary Samir Sinha visited the upcoming hub at Delhi’s IGI Airport — India’s busiest airport — on Thursday to fine-tune the policy and begin its implementation in right earnest.

Sinha is tackling what is the biggest pain point for international to domestic passengers — they need to collect their baggage on the port of arrival in India; clear customs and then then check-in again for the domestic connecting flight. “baggage for both inbound and outbound international passengers will be transferred seamlessly through airside operations at the hub airport, eliminating the need for passenger intervention,” the aviation ministry says about the change under the new hub-and-spoke policy.

Passengers flying out of India, say from Lucknow to Delhi to London, on the other hand, can through check-in their bag at Lucknow itself if both their flights are on the same airline or alliance’ code share partner carriers.

The operating procedure for domestic to international transfers:

“Under the hub-and-spoke model, passengers arriving from various smaller cities will be consolidated in a coordinated manner and routed through major hub airports such as Delhi for onward international connections. At the spoke (smaller origin) airport, passengers will be issued two separate boarding passes, clearly marked with ‘D’ (domestic) and ‘I’ (international) indicators,” the aviation ministry said in a statement.

“Customs and immigration formalities for outbound passengers will be completed at the first point of exit from the country, which will be the spoke airport, and passengers on such outbound journeys will not have access to customs declaration facilities during transit,” it said.

23/04/2026 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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IndiGo Gets Regulator's Warning Over Airfare Cap Compliance

 New Delhi: Aviation regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a warning letter to India's largest airline, IndiGo, in connection with compliance related to temporary domestic airfare caps imposed by the government in December 2025, the airline's parent InterGlobe Aviation informed stock exchanges on Thursday.

According to the exchange filing available on the bourses, the DGCA letter pertains to certain airfares offered during the period when government-imposed fare caps were in force.

The aviation regulator has advised the airline to exercise due caution and ensure strict adherence to applicable government orders in the future.

However, it also noted that IndiGo has already undertaken corrective actions, including refunding excess amounts collected from passengers.

According to the airline, the communication was received on Tuesday, April 21, and it clarified that there is no significant impact on its financials, operations or other activities arising from the matter.

The airline further said that all corrective actions, including refunds, have already been completed. It also attributed the delay in disclosure to an internal communication lag in receiving details of the DGCA letter.

23/04/2026 IASN/NDTV

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Navi Mumbai Airport may handle 50,000 passengers daily, operate 380 flights by year-end: Sources

Adani Group-owned Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is likely to handle 50,000 passengers daily, with an estimated 380 flights every day by the end of this year, according to sources.

The airport was set to start international operations from the current summer schedule, but it has been deferred due to the ongoing war in the Gulf region, they added.

The Greenfield Airport, which began commercial operations with domestic flight on December 25 last year, currently handles 20,000 passengers per day with an average of 150 air traffic movements (ATMs).

"We have already touched 20,000 passengers per day. What I foresee, from December, (we will be handling) about 50,000 passengers, while the number of ATMs is also expected to reach about 380 on average by that time. And the way we are pushing, probably we will do more because the traffic that is forthcoming has surprised us also, with a lot of commitment from IndiGo coming in," the sources said.

IndiGo operations currently account for 70 per cent of the airport's total daily flights, which is now going up to 80 per cent, one of the sources said, adding that "if Indigo does change their business model, they will bring in a lot of traffic to the greenfield facility".

23/04/2026 PTI/Economic Times

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India reissues travel advisory as India–Iran flight services resume in limited numbers

Embassy of India in Tehran issued a fresh advisory on Thursday, urging its citizens “not to travel to Iran”, as scant flight operations between the two countries begin to resume amid tensions. In a statement, the Embassy of India in Tehran said, “In view of reports of commencement of some flights between India and Iran, and in continuation of earlier advisories, Indian citizens are strongly advised not to travel to Iran, whether by air or land.”

The advisory comes amid ongoing uncertainty in the region, with authorities warning that aviation operations remain disrupted within the country. To assist citizens, the embassy shared emergency contact numbers and urged Indians to remain in close contact for guidance and support as the situation evolves.

 Iran reopened some of its key airports recently and gradually resumed flight operations after weeks of disruptions caused by conflicts involving the United States and Israel.

Major airports, including Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport, have recently restarted domestic services, and limited international connectivity has also been restored.

24/04/2026 First Post

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India extends airspace closure for Pakistan aircraft till May 24

New Delhi: India has extended the ban on Pakistan planes from using its airspace till May 24.

With the latest extension, the closure of the Indian airspace for Pakistan aircraft will now be in place for more than a year -- a move that first came days after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.

Since April last year, both countries have been extending the closure of their airspaces for each other's planes. On Tuesday, Pakistan extended the airspace closure till May 24.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Wednesday said the Indian airspace will not be available for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated/ owned or leased by Pakistan airlines/ operators, including military flights.

Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, that killed 26 people, India and Pakistan closed their respective airspaces for each other's planes.

23/04/2026 PTI/Economic Times

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From Partner to Lifeline: How Singapore Airlines Is Taking Over Air India's Operations

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is deepening its operational involvement in Air India as Tata Group's flag carrier grapples with record losses, safety lapses and a leadership vacuum, according to a Bloomberg report.

The Singaporean carrier has placed its executives in key roles across Air India's flight operations, engineering and maintenance, areas where SIA has long been considered a global benchmark. Singapore Airlines had first stepped up its involvement in engineering last year before expanding its presence across other functions. Meanwhile, Tata Group, which owns 74.9% of Air India, is focusing on commercial, human resources, finance and IT functions.

The shift marks a significant escalation in SIA's engagement, moving it from a strategic minority partner to an active, hands-on presence, a change made more urgent following the deadly Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash last year.

Air India lost more than ₹22,000 crore — roughly $2.4 billion — in the fiscal year ending March 2026, far worse than the $1.6 billion the airline had privately estimated just months earlier, Bloomberg reported. The scale of the damage forced Air India to approach both Tata Group and Singapore Airlines for fresh capital.

For SIA, the financial pain is direct. The carrier entered Air India as a minority shareholder after merging its Indian affiliate Vistara with the airline in 2024, and has since seen its own earnings dragged down. SIA disclosed losses from associated companies — largely attributable to Air India — of $139 million in the December quarter. Despite this, it said it remains "firmly committed" to supporting Air India's transformation.

23/04/2026 Outlook

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Air India may reduce overseas flights due to losses and high fuel costs

Tata Group-owned Air India is likely to reduce its international flight operations after posting a loss of nearly Rs 20,000 crore in FY26, amidst rising aviation fuel costs, according to senior officials.

According to a travel industry source, a final decision is expected to be taken at a board meeting scheduled for early May. It has been decided to keep travel companies informed about any development in this regard.

Air India is considering a 15% to 20% reduction in its flight schedule, though the overall cut across the Air India Group is expected to be relatively lower, in the range of 10-15%.

If the flight rationalisation proposal is implemented, more than 100 flights could be affected, from roughly 1,100 services operated daily by the Air India Group. Currently, Air India operates more than 700 domestic and international flights every day.

International services are likely to see the deepest cuts, since rising fuel costs, longer flying hours and higher crew expenses have squeezed route profitability and aircraft utilisation on overseas routes.

Air India has been reassessing capacity deployment across its entire network, particularly on long-haul international routes, where extended block hours have eroded productivity and weighed on overall operating economics.

23/04/2026 Statesman

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'Catastrophic like the Air India crash': Kerala Congress on what may go wrong with ethanol blended ATF

India has permitted blending of ethanol and other synthetic hydrocarbons in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as part of efforts to cut emissions and reduce dependence on oil imports.

The Kerala Congress unit has warned that the move could have “catastrophic consequences,” drawing a comparison with the Air India Express Flight 1344 crash.

In a post on X, the party criticised the Centre, alleging that “Nitin Gadkari and Narendra Modi are playing with real fire, driven by ignorance and greed.”

Explaining its concerns, the party said ethanol has a lower energy density (around 26.8 MJ/kg) compared to ATF (about 43.2 MJ/kg), which could impact engine performance during critical phases such as take-off. “If a fully loaded aircraft does not get sufficient thrust, the consequences can be catastrophic,” it said.

The post also claimed that aircraft using ethanol blends would require higher fuel volumes to achieve the same range, potentially reducing payload capacity and efficiency.

Raising safety concerns, it added that ethanol is hygroscopic—meaning it absorbs moisture from the air—which could freeze at high altitudes and form ice crystals, risking blockage of fuel lines and filters.

23/04/2026 Economic Times

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Mumbai Indians take flight as Malaysia Airlines unveils special-themed aircraft

Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier of Malaysia and the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, Mumbai Indians (MI) have announced a one-of-a-kind aircraft livery that combines the classic blue and gold of one of cricket’s most storied franchises with Malaysia Airlines’ blues.

The newly designed livery, now shown on Malaysia Airlines’ A330-300, transforms the aircraft into a strong visual representation of sport, culture, and connectivity, extending Mumbai’s spirit beyond the stadium and onto the world stage. The design combines both businesses’ respective identities, with a dynamic pulse emanating from the Mumbai Indians’ logo and its famous chakra, which represents motion and speed. Flowing patterns on the aircraft depict the team’s increasing worldwide fan base, supporting Malaysia Airlines’ position as a global airline that connects people through shared adventures and experiences.

To commemorate the inauguration, Malaysia Airlines and MI have created a tribute digital film that captures the colourful culture of Mumbai, the enthusiasm of its supporters, and the warmth of Malaysian hospitality.

Bryan Foong, Chief Executive Officer of Airline Business from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said, “India remains a key growth market for Malaysia Airlines as we continue to strengthen our presence and connectivity across the region. This collaboration with Mumbai Indians allows us to go beyond traditional aviation partnerships by integrating cultural relevance into our brand experience. It reflects our commitment to building meaningful, long-term connections with customers while reinforcing Malaysia Airlines as a carrier that connects people, places and passions across our global network.”

23/04/2026 Gauresh Mahadik/Sports Mint

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Kuwait, India discuss strengthening civil aviation cooperation

Kuwait: Director General of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah, held talks on Thursday with the Ambassador of India to Kuwait, Paramita Tripathi, on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector.

In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the meeting reviewed areas of joint cooperation and explored avenues to further develop relations in a manner that supports air transport operations and facilitates the exchange of expertise in this vital field.

The statement added that both sides also discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation to meet shared aspirations and contribute to the continued development and advancement of the civil aviation sector between the two countries. 

23/04/2026 KUNA/Kuwait Times

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India-China direct flight connectivity grows amid thawing yet ‘fragile’ ties

New Delhi: As India-China relations continue to improve, Air China has restarted direct flights on the Beijing-New Delhi route after a gap of almost six years. The service will operate on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday every week using Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft.

Direct flights between the two countries were halted in 2020 during COVID-19 and remained suspended amid breakdown in ties following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides.

As of now, India-China connectivity involves around 20 direct flights a week compared to over 40 weekly flights before 2020. These include, apart from Air China’s three weekly flights now, IndiGo’s daily Kolkata-Shanghai and Delhi-Guangzhou services, started in the last six months, and China Eastern Airlines’ six weekly Kunming-Kolkata flights that were resumed this week.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had visited China in July 2025, for the first time in five years, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin, and the subject of resumption of flights, along with border management and trade, was discussed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi then visited Tianjin in August 2025 for the SCO Summit—his first visit to China in over seven years—and met President Xi Jinping, signalling a massive improvement in India-China ties.

23/04/2026 Esha Mishra/Print

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Meet the entrepreneur who wants to bring 'flying hospital' to India

In a country like India, where timely access to healthcare can often mean the difference between life and death, the idea of a 'flying hospital' is both powerful and deeply relevant. With challenges such as traffic congestion, remote geographies, and limited medical infrastructure in many regions, emergency care is not always within reach.

In this conversation with Mathrubhumi, LYTE Aviation CEO & Founder Freshta Farzam shares her views on how SkyClinic, an innovative airborne medical platform aims to bridge this gap by bringing advanced medical care directly to patients.

From speed and accessibility to affordability and long-term vision, she explains how this futuristic concept could transform the way healthcare is delivered, especially in underserved areas.

In simple terms, what is a "flying hospital" and how will it help ordinary people?

A flying hospital is a fully equipped flying eVTOL that can land at your doorstep or anywhere on a 50m x 50m landing field. It will help ordinary people to gain finally access to surgeries and hospitals. Billions of people don't even have any access to hospitals.

How quickly can SkyClinic reach a patient compared to a regular ambulance?

We fly with 300km/h speed and cover a 1000km range... especially roads with bad or non-existent infrastructure, where ambulances can’t even reach or hard to reach, we are much faster than 50km/h speed and broken ground infrastructure

Can this flying hospital really work in crowded cities or remote villages in India?

Absolutely! Yes! It can and it will work in remote cities first in India, as that is where the biggest pain point is. But also in disaster zones, earthquakes, hurricanes etc leave broken infrastructure behind (runways, hospitals or even roads that cut off roads to hospitals) and that is where our SkyClinic is in high demand by governments in particular.

23/04/2026 Swati Ketkar/Mathrubhumi

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Mangaluru Airport Earns Highest Sustainability Rating for Waste Management

Mangaluru: Mangaluru International Airport Limited has received the highest ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ certification from the Confederation of Indian Industry, underscoring its progress in sustainable airport operations.

The Platinum – Class I rating was awarded after an extensive audit that found the airport diverts over 99 per cent of its waste from landfills. The certification process, conducted by the CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, examined waste handling, segregation, recycling and regulatory compliance.

Airport authorities said the achievement reflects systematic adoption of the 5R framework—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle—across its facilities. Measures include reducing waste generation at the source and expanding recycling and reuse channels.

The development comes amid increasing focus on sustainability in India’s aviation sector, where airports are under pressure to meet environmental standards while managing rising passenger traffic.

Experts say such certifications provide measurable indicators of progress and could influence future policy and infrastructure planning. With this recognition, the airport positions itself among facilities integrating environmental goals with operational efficiency.

23/04/2026 Hans India

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France lifts airport transit visa requirements for Indian nationals

During his recent visit to India in February 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron had announced that measures would be taken to ease Indian nationals’ travel via France.

Subsequent to President Macron’s statement, a decree amending that of 10 May 2010 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners into French territory was adopted, and published in the Official Gazette (Journal Officiel) on 9 April 2026.

Consequently, with effect from 10 April 2026, Indian nationals possessing an ordinary passport are no longer required to hold an airport transit visa when passing through the international zone of airports located on French territory. This measure applies to passengers remaining in the international zone during a layover at a French airport en route to a third country.

This change has been reflected in the procedures on the France-Visas platform: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/inde

23/04/2026 France in India

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Why India's Only Boeing 720 Was Left For Dead At Nagpur Airport 35 Years Ago

On July 21, 1991, a Boeing 720 operated by Continental Aviation Private Limited (CAPL) made an emergency landing at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport after reportedly developing engine trouble.

Ordinarily, such incidents are followed by repairs and departure within days. But this aircraft never left.

Instead, it remained parked near the runway, slowly gathering dust as weeks turned into years and then decades.

The Boeing 720, introduced in 1960 as a lighter, shorter-fuselage derivative of the successful 707, was designed for medium-range routes of 150 to 3,200 nautical miles with seating for up to 156 passengers.

Featuring aerodynamic wing improvements like full-span leading-edge flaps and greater sweep for better short-field performance, it initially used Pratt & Whitney JT3C turbojets before the 720B variant adopted quieter JT3D turbofans, enabling higher cruising speeds around 530 knots and a production run of 154 aircraft until 1967.

Primarily operated by U.S. carriers like United and Eastern Airlines, it filled a niche until the trijet 727 superseded it, with the last commercial service ending around 2010. Led Zeppelin, an English rock band, also had a famous customised Boeing 720 called 'The Starship.'

24/04/2026 Dristi Sharma/NDTV

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Airport director expresses concern over trash dumping, photography on airside

Pune: Airport director Santosh Dhoke on Thursday expressed concerns over passengers taking photographs and videos in the restricted airside area despite preventive measures, and dumping of garbage in the facility's vicinity.

Dhoke said the garbage situation near the airport had improved significantly, but not completely resolved. "Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has done commendable work through daily garbage collection and consistent planning, but some people still dump waste in undesignated areas. This poses safety risks," he said.

The presence of garbage attracts stray dogs towards the airport, even on the runway. An Air India Express flight from Bhubaneswar to Pune had to abort landing on June 28 last year because of a dog on the runway. A stray dog died after coming under the wheels of a taxiing SpiceJet flight to Ahmedabad on Feb 13 this year.

Trash near airports triggers bird hits, too. A bird strike was detected after an Air India's aircraft from Delhi landed in Pune on June 21 last year. A Delhi-Pune IndiGo flight was diverted to Surat on June 5, 2025, because of heavy bird activity near the runway.

Airport director Dhoke was visibly upset over rampant photography and videography at the airport. "There is no provision under which we can take action in the form of penalties against such flyers. While we intend to enhance these measures, passengers must understand the sensitivity of the issue and follow the rules," he said.

The airport authorities have taken several steps, including announcements inside the terminal and on aircraft, and signages, to restrict passengers from taking photographs in the facility. The issue propped up last week following the runway shutdown after hard landing of a fighter aircraft. Shortly after the incident, social media platforms were flooded with images and videos captured from the airport's airside.

24/04/2026 Times of India

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Delays dog SpiceJet, Bengaluru-Kolkata flight grounded for hours

Bengaluru: Fresh chaos unfolded at Kempegowda International Airport Thursday after SpiceJet flight SG768 from Bengaluru to Kolkata was delayed for several hours due to a technical snag, adding to a growing list of complaints against the airline over repeated disruptions and apathy towards passengers.

Passengers on SG768 said they were left waiting for hours without clear updates, with the flight still grounded past 10pm despite being scheduled for an afternoon departure. "The flight was to leave around 2pm, and they said there would be a delay of a few minutes, then it turned into hours, and at 10pm we are still waiting for it. We have not been given any sort of refund or assistance," said Anupam Mitra.

Airport officials eventually cited "aircraft under maintenance," but travellers alleged there was little staff at the boarding gate and no timely communication, even as tickets had cost over Rs 10,000.

24/04/2026 Times of India

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Airlines Dress Code Row: Why sindoor, bindi debate is rooted in safety and global standards

Viral excerpts of grooming policies have sparked questions on cultural expression, but industry voices say uniformity and operational readiness—not identity—drive airline norms

A controversy around grooming and uniform policies in the aviation sector has sparked debate, with Air India at the centre after sections of its cabin crew manual surfaced online. The documents, which reportedly restricted visible sindoor, mangalsutra, and certain accessories, drew criticism on social media, with many questioning whether airlines are limiting cultural expression.

Similar scrutiny has extended to other carriers, including Akasa Air and SpiceJet, where comparable grooming norms are understood to be in place, suggesting that the issue reflects a broader industry approach rather than a single-company policy.

Airline statements and industry experts, however, indicate that the matter may be less about culture and more about global aviation standards, safety protocols, and uniformity requirements.

In aviation, cabin crew are not only service professionals but also trained safety personnel responsible for handling emergencies such as evacuations, onboard fires, and medical situations. Industry sources note that grooming norms are guided by the need to ensure that nothing interferes with a crew member’s ability to respond quickly and effectively. Accessories or adornments—regardless of whether they are cultural, religious, or purely aesthetic—can pose practical risks, including getting entangled during evacuation procedures, hindering movement in narrow aircraft aisles, or becoming hazards during turbulence or fire-related incidents.

Such policies are not unique to India. Global carriers like Emirates and Singapore Airlines follow similarly detailed grooming standards aimed at ensuring consistency, safety, and a professional onboard environment.

23/04/2026 Sreelekha Venugopal/News24

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Akasa Air Bets on Hajj Surge to Counter West Asia Flight Disruptions

MUMBAI- Akasa Air (QP), India’s third-largest airline, is deploying aircraft idled by ongoing West Asia route suspensions on Hajj charter and scheduled services to Jeddah (JED), Saudi Arabia, capitalizing on a concentrated surge in pilgrim travel demand.

The move is a short-term strategy to sustain fleet utilization while key Gulf routes remain grounded.

Hajj 2026 travel to Mecca began in April, with the first pilgrim flights landing in Jeddah (JED) on April 18. Reported by Livemint, the arrival window runs through May 21, ahead of the main Hajj rituals scheduled for May 25 to 29.

Approximately 5 to 6 aircraft are being used for Hajj travel. Akasa Air has suspended services to Doha (DOH), Riyadh (RUH), and Kuwait City (KWI) as geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt Gulf airspace.

While flights to Doha, Riyadh, and Kuwait remain suspended, Akasa Air continues to operate flights to Jeddah (JED) from Ahmedabad (AMD), Bengaluru (BLR), Mumbai (BOM), Kochi (COK), and Kozhikode (CCJ), making these corridors the natural outlet for its stranded fleet capacity.

23/04/2026 Mahesh Darkunde/AviationA2Z

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