When the country’s largest airline, IndiGo, suffered a system breakdown, leaving thousands of passengers waiting for hours at airports and many unable to reach their destinations. This crisis exposed the harsh reality that the Indian aviation sector is dominated by a handful of players.
But now there’s hope for change. The central government has taken a major step to break this monopoly and provide travelers with better options. The government has issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to two new airlines, Al Hind Air and Fly Express. This means that in the future, travelers will no longer have to rely solely on one or two companies to book air tickets.
The will of just two companies will no longer prevail.
Currently, two major conglomerates dominate Indian airspace: IndiGo and the Tata Group (Air India). Statistics indicate that approximately 90 percent of domestic passengers use the services of these two conglomerates. Therefore, when one airline faces problems, the entire system is affected, directly impacting ordinary travelers.
To mitigate this risk, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has taken concrete steps. He stated that the government is encouraging new airlines to foster healthy competition in the market. In the past week, the ministry has met with teams from three new companies. This move by the minister is a clear indication that the government now wants to create new options in the market to provide relief to passengers from arbitrary fares and flight delays.
Who are these new players about to take to the skies?
The two companies that have now received NOCs have interesting backgrounds. Al Hind Air is part of the Kerala-based Al Hind Group, which is already a major player in the travel and tourism sector. Fly Express is a Hyderabad-based company with experience in courier and cargo services.
Additionally, Shankh Air has already received a NOC. Shankh Air plans to connect major cities in Uttar Pradesh, such as Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, and Gorakhpur. This means improved connectivity for travelers from smaller cities (Tier 2 and 3) in the future. Smaller companies like Star Air and Fly91 have already established themselves under the government’s UDAN scheme, and these new players will add even more speed and options.