Shankh Air, Alhind Air and Fly Express Get NOCs; Govt Pushes Competition in Aviation.

Centre Clears Three New Airlines; Shankh Air, Alhind Air & Fly Express Get NOCs to Boost Competition.

In a major boost to competition in India’s aviation sector, the Centre has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to three new airlines — Shankh Air, Alhind Air and Fly Express, signalling a decisive push to break the growing duopoly of IndiGo and the Air India Group, which together control over 90% of the domestic market.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu confirmed the approvals this week, calling it a step toward a more competitive and resilient aviation ecosystem.

The move gains significance in the wake of IndiGo’s massive operational disruption earlier this month, which led to thousands of flight cancellations and exposed the risks of market concentration. Among the new entrants, Shankh Air plans to operate as a full-service carrier from Noida/Jewar, focusing on connecting Uttar Pradesh cities to major metros, while Kerala-based Alhind Air will begin as a regional commuter airline using ATR aircraft. Hyderabad-based Fly Express, backed by a logistics group, will focus on regional domestic routes.

While the airlines must still secure Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) from the DGCA, the approvals underline the government’s intent to stabilise fares, improve service reliability, and strengthen regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme, marking a critical shift in India’s aviation policy.