The duopoly in Indian skies is finally getting some serious company. After a rough month of flight cancellations and “meltdowns” from the major players, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed this week that three new airlines—Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyExpress—are officially clearing the runway.
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The thing is, getting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry is just the first lap. Now comes the real grind: aircraft induction, crew training, and getting that final Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the DGCA. Or nothing. Let’s be real, launching an airline in India is like running a marathon in a furnace—the fuel costs and taxes are some of the highest in the world. Those too.
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The New Contenders: Who are they?
| Airline | Hub / Base | Fleet Strategy | Focus |
| Shankh Air | Noida / Lucknow | Boeing 737-800NG | Full-service; UP’s first scheduled carrier. |
| Al Hind Air | Kochi | ATR 72-600 | Regional connectivity with Gulf ambitions. |
| FlyExpress | Regional Focus | TBD (Likely turboprops) | Tier-II and Tier-III connectivity via UDAN. |
Why Now? The “Duopoly” Scare
Earlier this month, a massive operational collapse at one of India’s leading carriers left thousands stranded. It was a wake-up call. And here’s the kicker: the government realized that having just two or three dominant players is a massive risk.
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The Competition Play: Naidu is pushing these startups to keep fares in check.
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The UDAN Boost: Just like Fly91 and Star Air, these new players are leaning on government subsidies to fly into smaller towns that the big jets won’t touch.
The Challenges Ahead
It’s an ongoing situation where the “paperwork” looks great, but the “hardware” is the bottleneck. Global aircraft shortages mean Shankh Air and Al Hind are fighting for delivery slots. Plus, with the Rupee sliding and oil prices being… well, oil prices… staying airborne is a financial tightrope.
Still, the Ministry is banking on these “David” airlines to take on the “Goliaths.” If everything stays on track, you might be seeing these new liveries on your booking apps by the mid-2026 holiday season.
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