NEW DELHI, Dec 24: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) to regional carrier Al Hind Air and startup airline FlyExpress, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced on X on Tuesday. The approvals enable both airlines to proceed with the regulatory processes required to commence operations.

“Over the past week, I was pleased to meet teams from new airlines aspiring to take flight in Indian skies — Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyExpress. While Shankh Air had already received its NOC from the Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have now secured theirs,” Naidu said.

The clearances come in the wake of significant operational disruptions earlier this month, when IndiGo cancelled approximately 4,500 flights due to staff planning issues linked to updated flight duty time limitation rules. The cancellations stranded thousands of passengers, prompting renewed calls for increased competition in India’s domestic aviation market.

IndiGo currently commands around 65% of the domestic market, while the Air India Group controls roughly 27%, according to industry data. Smaller airlines account for the remainder, highlighting the sector’s high level of concentration. Following the December disruption, IndiGo has resumed more than 1,000 flights and issued an apology after the Aviation Ministry instructed it to clear pending passenger refunds.

Naidu emphasised that the government is actively encouraging new players to strengthen resilience and provide passengers with more choices in the world’s fastest-growing aviation market. He noted that policy initiatives such as the UDAN regional connectivity scheme have helped smaller carriers expand services.

“It has been the Ministry’s endeavour to encourage more airlines in Indian aviation. Schemes like UDAN have enabled smaller carriers such as Star Air, IndiaOne Air, and Fly91 to play an important role in regional connectivity, and there is significant scope for further growth,” he said.

Al Hind Air, promoted by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, plans to operate turboprop aircraft initially focused on southern India, and is currently seeking an air operator certificate. FlyExpress has not yet disclosed detailed operational plans but intends to launch soon, according to its website.

Shankh Air, based in Uttar Pradesh and already issued an NOC, is also expected to begin operations in 2026.

Since 2020, India has granted permits to six new air operators, including regional carriers, the government informed lawmakers earlier this year. The country’s scheduled airlines currently include IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, Star Air, Fly91, and IndiaOne Air, as per the aviation regulator.