The Airline Operators Committee has questioned the basis for shifting 33 per cent of international services to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Air India Express, Air India, Akasa Air, and IndiGo have cancelled flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following reported attacks by Houthi militants on Riyadh and Abha airports, with cancellations extended until at least October 9-10.
Air India secured the 57th spot worldwide, marking a notable rise from its 84th position in 2025. IndiGo, meanwhile, slipped to 61st, compared with 39th place a year earlier.
IndiGo will have 74 of its 224 weekly international departures affected while Air India will relocate 33 of its 100 departures.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu stated that no decision has been made regarding allowing Delhi and Mumbai airport operators to own and run airlines, as the government is carefully considering the implications of relaxing cross-ownership restrictions, including potential conflicts of interest and the need for more airlines.
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Iranian airlines could be effectively shut out of international travel from Wednesday, September 23, as Washington threatens secondary sanctions against foreign companies that continue providing services to Iran's carriers.
Varthaman, who downed an enemy jet during an aerial combat with Pakistan in 2019 and was held captive for three days in that country, was honoured with the Vir Chakra award in 2021.
A flight may be cancelled for reasons beyond an airline's control. The chaos that follows need not be, points out Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has informed airlines that it will not shift any international flights from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai airport until the end of the winter season in March next year, following discussions with the Airline Operators Committee.
Six individuals, including the alleged mastermind and a website developer, have been arrested for operating a sophisticated fake airline job racket. The fraudsters used social media ads and fake websites to solicit fees for aviation diplomas, promising jobs at Indira Gandhi International Airport, and duped numerous job seekers before being caught.
The Airports Authority of India has received a request for a waiver from contractual restrictions that prevent airport concessionaires and their group entities from holding equity in scheduled airlines, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed in the Rajya Sabha. This comes amid reports of the Adani group's interest in the airline business, despite their denial.
Israel has implemented new aviation security directives, barring pilots and cabin crew from countries without diplomatic ties, including Pakistan, from entering its airspace. This follows a hijacking attempt last month on a flight to Israel, where Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was injured while thwarting the plot. The restrictions affect over two dozen nationalities and have prompted airlines like Air France and United Airlines to adjust crew assignments.
Air India has extended the cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabia until October 20, 2026, due to escalating tensions and Houthi attacks in the region. IndiGo and Akasa Air have also extended their flight suspensions to Saudi cities, with passengers offered full refunds.
Tewolde Gebremariam, a seasoned aviation professional with extensive experience at Ethiopian Airlines, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India. He is tasked with leading the airline's ambitious five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, aimed at achieving significant growth and profitability, marking him as the second foreign national to helm Air India under Tata Group ownership.
Around 40 pilots of SpiceJet's Q400 aircraft fleet refused to fly till the airline cleared their salary dues, a stance that has been supported by pilots' grouping ALPA India, according to sources.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has requested Adani Airports to postpone the partial relocation of international flights from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai airport, a move initially proposed due to renovation of Mumbai's Terminal 1 and opposed by airlines. Discussions are underway to formulate a revised transition plan.
The process agreed on Tuesday will require MIAL to first build stakeholder agreement on the transition before taking the plan through the regulatory approval process.
Follow these guidelines to reduce the potential of a power bank fire on a flight.
India has advised its nationals in Saudi Arabia to 'remain calm and vigilant' due to an evolving security situation, including drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which recently resulted in the death of an Indian national and injuries to several others.
Air India has announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Campbell Wilson. This strategic appointment comes as the airline navigates expansion amidst significant challenges.
Mumbai International Airport is set to reduce 265 weekly international flights from October 25 to facilitate the redevelopment of Terminal 1. This move, impacting 46 airlines including IndiGo and Air India, has raised concerns among carriers and global aviation bodies like IATA, who advocate for collaborative planning over mandated relocations.
GE Aerospace is set to significantly increase its supply chain spending in India, targeting USD 400 million by 2030, up from USD 200 million in 2025. This expansion reflects the company's commitment to India's burgeoning aviation market, driven by substantial aircraft orders and the strategic importance of its manufacturing and technology centres in Pune and Bengaluru.
India has issued an advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to stay indoors during aerial attacks and follow local instructions, amidst ongoing tensions and drone/missile attacks by Houthi rebels. The advisory follows an attack on Riyadh airport that killed one Indian national and injured several others, leading to flight suspensions by Indian carriers.
India has issued a new advisory for its citizens in Saudi Arabia, urging them to follow local instructions, stay indoors during aerial attacks, and be aware of ongoing flight disruptions. The advisory follows an October 10 attack on Riyadh airport that injured several Indians, with some still hospitalised. Major Indian airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi cities until late October, impacting travellers and Umrah pilgrims.
Tewolde Gebremariam, Air India's CEO and MD-designate, has outlined passenger safety, operational reliability, and sustainable profitability as the airline's foremost priorities, emphasising a stronger safety-reporting culture and improved disruption recovery.
The flydubai near-tragedy showed how the gratuitous conflicts their governments started in West Asia have made the world unsafe for them (and unfortunate co-passengers of other nationalities), points out Kanika Datta.
Boeing has identified a software issue in some 737 MAX planes that could disengage the automated flight guidance system after a missed landing approach. The company is developing a permanent solution and has advised operators on interim procedures. Indian carriers Air India Express and Akasa Air operate these aircraft, with Akasa Air stating no impact on their safety.
India's domestic air passenger traffic experienced a 6.34 per cent year-on-year decline in August, reaching 121.26 lakh passengers, according to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday after a passenger's power bank caught fire in the overhead bin. The cabin crew quickly extinguished the fire, and the aircraft landed safely. All 180 passengers and seven crew members were unharmed. This is reportedly the third such incident on an IndiGo aircraft in about a year.
India has issued an advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant and stay indoors due to an escalating security situation involving Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure, including airports. The advisory also cautions against circulating related news and confirms the normal functioning of Indian diplomatic missions. Flight services from India to Riyadh have been cancelled by Air India and Air India Express until October 10 following the attacks.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced that the government will not impose a cap on airfares during the upcoming festive season. Instead, airlines will be advised to maintain reasonable prices, considering the rising operating costs primarily due to increased Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, exacerbated by the West Asia crisis.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced India's ambition to produce its first indigenous civilian aircraft within two years through a joint venture. He highlighted the rapid growth of the country's aviation sector, with significant aircraft orders, planned new airports, and potential for manufacturing jet engines and Sustainable Aviation Fuel, underscoring India's increasing role in global aviation.
Air India has suspended a pilot after he failed a breath analyser test at Zurich airport, prompting the airline to reinforce stringent regulatory compliance and accountability measures following recent safety incidents.
An IndiGo flight from Patna to Lucknow sustained damage to its nose section upon landing at Lucknow airport on Wednesday. All 104 passengers were safe, and the damage was discovered by the airport team post-landing. An investigation is underway, with lightning during adverse weather being a preliminary possibility.
Authorities in Australia, Israel, and the UAE are investigating an Omani co-pilot's attempted "terrorist act" on a flydubai flight. The co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, attacked the Indian captain with a crash axe, but passengers and reserve pilots managed to land the plane safely. The probe focuses on his motives, connections, and past radical views.
Two Maldivian pilots employed by flydubai have been arrested in the UAE in connection with an alleged attempt by an Omani co-pilot to hijack and crash a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. The incident, which injured Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, is being investigated by UAE authorities and India's NIA, with the accused co-pilot suspected of extremist ideologies.
An Omani citizen, Hamam al-Hammami, has been identified as the flydubai co-pilot who attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and allegedly attempted to take control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, which the UAE has now confirmed as a 'terrorist act'.
Around 200 SpiceJet passengers protested at Delhi airport after their flights to Dubai were repeatedly rescheduled and delayed since Monday. The airline cited operational reasons due to an aircraft grounding and is arranging alternate flights, while the Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA are monitoring SpiceJet's operations.
China Southern Airlines is set to resume its Guangzhou-New Delhi passenger service from September 21, ending a six-year suspension. This move is part of a broader normalisation of India-China relations, following recent high-level diplomatic meetings and previous flight resumptions by other carriers.
