New Airlines in India: Until now, India’s aviation sector has been dominated by a few major players, often resulting in high airfares and limited choices for passengers. To break this monopoly, the central government has taken a decisive step. Sending a strong message that unchecked dominance will no longer be tolerated, the government has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to three new airlines—Al Hind Air, Fly Express, and Shankh Air. This move is expected to offer passengers more options and more affordable air travel in the coming years.
Government’s Action Plan to Boost Competition
At present, IndiGo and Tata Group’s Air India dominate the Indian aviation market, with nearly 90% of air travelers relying on these airlines. Recently, thousands of passengers faced inconvenience due to a system outage at IndiGo, highlighting the urgent need for more airlines in the sector. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the government is actively encouraging new airlines to ensure better services and improved passenger experience.
Over the last one week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skies—Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress.
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) December 23, 2025
While Shankh Air has already got the NOC from Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs in this week.
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Details of the Three New Airlines
Al Hind Air Airlines, based in Kerala, is backed by the Alhind Group, a well-known name in the travel and tourism industry. Fly Express Airlines, headquartered in Hyderabad, has so far operated in the courier and cargo segment and is now set to enter passenger services. In addition, Shankh Air, which had already received approval earlier, will focus on connecting major cities in Uttar Pradesh.
Benefits for Smaller Cities
Under the government’s UDAN scheme, airlines such as Star Air and Fly91 are already operational. The entry of these new airlines is expected to significantly improve connectivity to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This initiative will make air travel not only more accessible for passengers in metro cities but also more affordable and convenient for travelers from smaller towns.