Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced significant opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within India's rapidly expanding aviation sector. With Indian airlines ordering over 1,600 aircraft and the aerospace market projected to double by 2035, there's a massive scope for Indian suppliers to integrate into global aerospace supply chains, moving beyond assembly to design and manufacturing.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has allocated portfolios of newly created departments among ministers, keeping Civil Aviation with himself, an official notification said.
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.
French aerospace and defence major Thales views India as a highly dynamic market for avionics, with significant growth potential as Indian airlines expand their fleets. The company, which has a substantial presence and MRO facilities in India, is also exploring opportunities to replicate India-developed solutions globally and sees increased use of AI in development.
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.
State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, underscores India's progress towards self-reliance in aerospace, strengthening both military and civil aviation capabilities with indigenous platforms.
HAL has handed over a new batch of indigenous aircraft, marking another step in India's domestic aerospace manufacturing programme. The company delivered two LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers to the IAF, completing twin-seater deliveries under the FOC contract.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a deputy director of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in connection with an alleged bribery case. The arrest took place in Tamil Nadu, and the CBI plans to seek transit remand to bring the officer to New Delhi for further questioning. An FIR was registered following inputs about the alleged bribe demand.
Air India has been issued a show-cause notice by the ministry of civil aviation after three Italian nationals travelled from Amritsar to Delhi and then to Munich without obtaining mandatory departure immigration clearance, highlighting a 'serious security and immigration-related lapse'.
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.
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.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's capabilities across military, civil rotary-wing, and pilot training aviation.
State-run defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, along with Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's diverse capabilities in military, civil, and training aviation.
The Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA are actively discussing to make psychoactive substance testing standards for all commercial pilots.
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.
The pilot-in-command of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop last week has tested positive for a psychoactive substance, identified by sources as marijuana, in a confirmatory test. This development comes as Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu met with Air India executives to discuss the serious incident, which left 24 people injured.
An Indian national was killed and two others were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This incident follows another attack on the Shaybah oilfield where an Indian was also injured, amidst escalating strikes by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi infrastructure.
Aviation security watchdog BCAS is conducting trials of full body scanners at Bengaluru and Cochin airports. The trials aim to collect data to refine algorithms, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring the technology is suitable for Indian passengers before wider deployment across airports.
Regional Indian airline FLY91 has placed a significant order for 40 new ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, valued at nearly USD 1 billion. This marks the single largest order for ATR planes by a regional carrier globally and is set to dramatically expand FLY91's network, connecting more unserved and underserved cities across India. Deliveries are scheduled from late 2027 to 2032, supporting the airline's goal of operating over 60 aircraft.
An Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur following a false hijack alert, which was later attributed to a technical glitch. The flight, carrying 293 passengers and 13 crew, resumed its journey to Delhi after security checks, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) set to investigate the incident.
Adani Group-controlled Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has reiterated that airlines must decide whether to shift flights to Navi Mumbai, temporarily suspend operations at Mumbai airport, or pursue other alternatives from the summer 2027 schedule due to Terminal 1's redevelopment.
A training aircraft operated by Garg Aviation crashed in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, killing a trainee pilot and an instructor. The Tecnam aircraft went down near Nathapurwa village shortly after take-off. Authorities, including the DGCA, are investigating the cause of the fatal accident.
In the wake of repeated faults in planes carrying Haj pilgrims from Srinagar, the Union home ministry on Monday summoned civil aviation officials following a strong protest by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
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.
Talks between senior officials of civil aviation ministry and the Indian Pilots Guild began in Mumbai on Saturday shortly after noon to resolve the issue of operating in SARS-affected regions by the unions.
Bengaluru-based electric air taxi startup Sarla Aviation has received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a crucial step towards commercial production of its indigenous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company also inaugurated its new headquarters and announced partnerships, highlighting India's growing capabilities in advanced aerospace technology.
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).
Adani Group-operated Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) is set to begin demolishing a section of its nearly 80-year-old Terminal 1 from January 15, 2027, as part of a major redevelopment plan. This initiative involves redistributing air traffic from T1 to Terminal 2 and the Navi Mumbai International Airport, with significant shifts planned for international and domestic flights starting October 1 and October 25, respectively.
Nepal has condemned a drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Shaybah oilfield that resulted in the death of a Nepali migrant worker and injuries to others. The incident, which also killed a Filipino national and injured Indian and Pakistani nationals, occurred amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels. Another attack on King Fahd International Airport also claimed an Indian life.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Friday said the airline industry in India has grown by 400 per cent in a short span of about six-and-a-half years.
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.
Drogo Aerospace's JK 250e fixed-wing VTOL UAV has received type certification from the DGCA on Thursday. This UAV, designed for the Indian armed forces' ISR needs, combines fixed-wing efficiency with VTOL capability and has an endurance of two to three hours. The certification is crucial for indigenous UAV technology development and operator training.
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.
Aviation regulator DGCA had flagged safety issues concerning Tecnam aircraft over a month before a Tecnam P2006T training aircraft crashed in Kanpur on August 27, killing a trainee pilot and an instructor.
Flash floods in Tibet's Gyirong County, near the China-Nepal border, have resulted in five deaths and 558 missing individuals, including 260 foreign nationals. The disaster also caused significant casualties in Nepal and disrupted infrastructure. Rescue operations are underway, and concerns are rising over a newly formed barrier lake that poses a risk of further flooding.
Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has secured type certification from India's aviation regulator, DGCA, for three of its commercial jets (E195-E2, E190, and E195). This approval, alongside an existing certification for its E175 jet, paves the way for Embraer to expand its presence in India's regional aviation market, supported by a strategic MoU with Adani Defence & Aerospace for a Final Assembly Line in Dholera, Gujarat.
Devastating flash floods near the Tibet-Nepal border have led to the evacuation of over 1,000 people, including tourists, from Gyirong County. The floods caused casualties in both Tibet and Nepal, disrupted infrastructure, and prompted a Level-IV alert due to a rapidly forming barrier lake with a high risk of breaching and causing further downstream flooding.
India has strongly condemned the recent Houthi militant attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports, asserting that the targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable.
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.
