India Aviation News: New Airlines Approved by Government

Kokila Chokkanathan
1) ✈️ India Approves Three New airlines to Boost Competition

The Indian government has granted regulatory clearance (No Objection Certificates or NOCs) to three new airline operators — Shankh Air, Al‑Hind Air and FlyExpress — as part of a move to widen competition in the country’s fast‑growing aviation sector.

This comes against a backdrop of concerns about market concentration after service disruptions by major carriers, especially indigo, in recent weeks.


2) 🪶 1. Shankh air — A Regional Full‑Service Carrier

  • Who owns it: Shankh air is owned by Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, the founder of Shankh Agencies Private Limited, a diversified business involved in materials and trading.
  • Base & focus: The airline is Uttar Pradesh‑based, with main hubs planned at Lucknow and Noida, focused on connecting Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities.
  • Plans & launch: It received its NOC earlier and is expected to begin commercial operations in 2026, using next‑generation Boeing aircraft and building a fleet of around 20–25 planes in the next few years.

3) 🌍 2. Al‑Hind air — Linking South india to the Gulf

  • Who owns it: Al‑Hind air is promoted by the Al‑Hind Group, a Kozhikode‑based travel and tourism conglomerate founded in 1992 and now a large travel services company.
  • Operations plan: The airline will start with ATR aircraft for domestic routes across southern cities (like Kochi, Bengaluru, Chennai) and later expand to international services (Gulf destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, etc.).
  • Launch timeline: Originally targeted for june 2025, its launch was delayed due to regulatory procedures but is now expected in early 2026.

4) 📦 3. FlyExpress — Emerging from a Cargo Background

  • Who owns it: FlyExpress is backed by a Hyderabad‑based courier and cargo services company that operates under the same name and is reportedly led by Konakati Suresh.
  • Details so far: While corporate specifics are limited, FlyExpress has launched a website and is gearing up for airline operations — though exact fleet data-size and route plans haven’t been publicly detailed yet.
  • Launch plans: The carrier will still need approvals (like an air Operator Certificate) before commercial flying begins, likely in 2026.

5) 🛫 Why This Matters for indian air Travel

  • Improved competition: These new carriers are expected to provide more choices for passengers and help reduce reliance on a small number of dominant airlines in India’s domestic market.
  • Regional connectivity: Especially Shankh air and Al‑Hind air are targeting regional and underserved routes, potentially improving access to air travel from smaller cities.
  • Timeline to take off: All three are projected to start operations around 2026, subject to final DGCA certifications and preparations.
 

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