Two new airlines get Centre nod; Al Hind Air and FlyExpress set for 2026 launch

New Delhi: Amid the IndiGo crisis, the Civil Aviation Ministry has given a nod for two new airline companies, set to fly from 2026.

Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Civil Aviation Ministry this week. Apart from these two, Shankh Air, based in Uttar Pradesh, is also likely to start flight operations in 2026. Shankh Air has already received its NOC.

New entries in the aviation market

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has met with teams from two new airline companies over the past week, which are looking to enter the Indian aviation market.

In a post on X, Naidu said, “Over the last week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skies—Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. While Shankh Air has already got the NOC from the Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs this week."

“It has been the endeavour of the ministry to encourage more airlines in Indian Aviation, which is amongst the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, owing to the policies of the government of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodiji. Schemes like UDAN have enabled smaller carriers Star Air, India One Air, Fly91, etc. to play an important role in the regional connectivity within the country and there is more scope for further growth,” Naidu said.

Al Hind to launch ATR Turboprop ⁠aircraft in South

According to the Al Hind website, it plans to begin operations in South India with a fleet of ATR Turboprop ⁠aircraft. It is in the process of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate. A banner on the FlyExpress website also ⁠said ‘coming soon.’

The ministry’s NOC to new airline companies assumes significance in the wake of the IndiGo crisis, where India’s largest airline operator had to cancel several flights after the Central government’s updated Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules.

The Indigo airline cancellation crisis

On December 6, the ministry ordered IndiGo to settle all pending refund payments to passengers who were affected by the meltdown. The company also apologised for the inconvenience and expressed its commitment to rebuilding customer trust and appreciated the support from its partners, government agencies, customers, and staff.

IndiGo now restored 95 per cent of its network connectivity, or over 1,000 flights. However, the airline will now operate 135 out of 138 flight routes.