National Current Affairs
India to get 3 new airlines
- 02 Jan 2026
- 1 min read
Why in News?
The Government of India has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to three new airlines — Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress — to enter the Indian aviation sector.
Key Points
- Regulatory Approval: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted NOCs to three new airlines.
- Clearance Stage: After receiving NOCs, the airlines are in the process of securing the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to commence commercial operations.
- Operational Timeline: Commercial flight operations are expected to begin in 2026.
- Nature of Airlines: These are proposed as low-cost and regional airlines.
- Breaking the Duopoly: The government is moving to reduce the extreme market concentration where IndiGo (~65%) and Air India (~27%) control over 90% of traffic.
- Regional Connectivity: The move aligns with the government’s objective of improving air connectivity to Tier-II and Tier-III cities, in line with the broader goals of the UDAN regional connectivity framework.
