In addition to these two airlines, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air is also anticipated to begin flying in 2026.
Al Hind Air and FlyExpress, two news airlines scheduled to launch next year, have received approval from the civil aviation ministry.
The government issued no objection certifications to both airlines on Wednesday, according to the PTI news agency. In addition to these two airlines, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air is also anticipated to begin flying in 2026. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Shankh Air has already been issued.
"I'm happy to have met teams from Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyExpress, three new airlines hoping to take off in India over the past week. In a post on X, civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu stated, "Al Hind Air and FlyExpress received their NOCs this week, while Shankh Air has already received the NOC from the Ministry."
The action coincides with the ministry's efforts to expand the number of airline operators in the nation, which has one of the fastest-growing domestic civil aviation markets in the world, according to PTI. Currently, more than 90% of the domestic civil aviation market share is held by IndiGo and Air India Group, which includes Air India and Air India Express carriers.
According to the PTI report, Fly Big, a regional airline, suspended scheduled flights in October, leaving India with nine active domestic airlines.
Regarding the two new carriers, what do we know?
With Al Hind Air being marketed by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, these new carriers will play a crucial role in improving regional connectivity. Al Hind Air will launch as a regional commuter airline, according to the airline's website.
With a fleet of ATR 72–600 type aircraft, it will start flying, first concentrating on offering effective domestic air transport. Later on, though, it intends to extend its services to foreign locations.
According to its website, "alhindair is actively collaborating with Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to ensure a seamless setup of its operational base, based at the Kochi hub."
Concerns over duopoly prompt airlines to receive NOC
Amid worries over an apparent duopoly in India's domestic airline sector, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have got their NOCs, according to PTI.
The biggest airline in the nation, IndiGo, which has a market share of over 65%, has had severe operational interruptions, which have raised worries.
"Owing to the policies of the government of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, the ministry has endeavored to encourage more airlines in Indian aviation, which is among the fastest growing aviation markets in the world," civil aviation minister Naidu stated on X. Smaller airlines like Star Air, India One Air, Fly91, and others have been able to "play an important role in the regional connectivity within the country" thanks to programs like UDAN, he continued.
Thousands of flights were cancelled due to the Indigo problem.
Earlier this month, IndiGo experienced a major problem that resulted in thousands of cancelled flights, millions of stranded customers at airports, and misdirected luggage.
The government then stepped in to tighten the crews on IndiGo and called Pieter Elbers, the airline's CEO, to testify before a DGCA committee. Isidro Porqueras, the chief operations officer, was also called by the regulator.
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