New Delhi, India: In a significant passenger-centric reform for India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed

IndiGo Tops India In Pilot Numbers But Has Lowest Pilot-To-Aircraft Ratio At 7.6

Aviation Today News Desk March 13, 2026

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline IndiGo has the lowest pilot-to-aircraft ratio among domestic carriers, the government informed Parliament, highlighting staffing

DGCA Issues Safety Warning To Charter Operators After Decade-Long Accident Data Review

Aviation Today News Desk February 28, 2026

New Delhi, India: India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a sweeping safety warning to

India Revises Airline Refund Rules, Introduces 48-Hour Free Cancellation Window

Aviation Today News Desk February 27, 2026

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formally amended India’s Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) governing airline ticket

India Has 25,001 Active Pilots As Fleet Growth Accelerates; Employment Data Missing

Aviation Today News Desk February 17, 2026

Delhi, India: India currently has 25,001 active pilots, the government told Parliament, offering the latest official snapshot of the country’s licensed

Delhi, India: India’s domestic aviation sector sustained its expansion in 2025, with scheduled domestic carriers ferrying 1,669.46 lakh (166.946 million) passengers for the calendar year, marking a 3.48 per cent increase over the 1,613.31 lakh passengers recorded in 2024, according to the latest official traffic data.  The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) monthly report shows the growth was powered by consistent passenger demand, despite significant operational challenges experienced during the final month of the year.  For the full year ending December 2025, domestic travel grew to 166.946 million passengers, compared with 161.331 million in 2024. This uptick reflects sustained recovery in both leisure and business travel markets.  However, December 2025 bucked the annual growth trend, with traffic falling 4.14 per cent month‑on‑month. Approximately 14.30 million passengers flew on domestic sectors in December a significant reduction from previous months.  Industry sources and airport operators have tied the December slump chiefly to weeks of widespread schedule disruptions at one of India’s largest carriers, which led to cancellations and repositioning of flights across several high‑density routes.  IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline by market share, saw its proportion of the domestic market decline sharply in December 2025. DGCA data shows the carrier’s share dropped to 59.6 per cent, down from 63.6 per cent in November. This was one of the lowest monthly market share figures for the airline in recent years, reflecting the operational challenges it faced.  In contrast, several competitors capitalised on displaced traffic flows during this period. The Air India Group’s market share rose to 29.6 per cent, while Akasa Air increased to 5.2 per cent, and SpiceJet to 4.3 per cent in December 2025. The DGCA also reported that delays and service irregularities in December generated heightened consumer issues, with more than 29,000 complaints logged with airlines for that month. An estimated 8.34 lakh passengers were affected by flight delays, while carriers collectively spent more than ₹4.5 crore on passenger facilitation.  In addition, thousands of passengers were denied boarding due to operational adjustments, prompting additional compensation outlays approaching ₹2.08 crore.  Following the disruptions, IndiGo has stated that it has taken steps to bolster operational resilience. The airline increased its crew buffer to approximately 3 per cent in early February 2026, alongside raising the pilot‑to‑aircraft ratio, after operating with minimal buffers in December.  The DGCA and airline industry stakeholders have signalled that measures to ensure stability including compliance with updated rest norms for crew and enhanced scheduling strategies are central to mitigating future volatility.

India’s Domestic Air Traffic Hits 166.9M Passengers In 2025 Despite IndiGo Disruptions

Aviation Today News Desk February 15, 2026

Delhi, India: India’s domestic aviation sector sustained its expansion in 2025, with scheduled domestic carriers ferrying 1,669.46 lakh (166.946 million) passengers for the

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Flag DGCA’s Revised FDTL Framework As More Restrictive

Aviation Today News Desk February 13, 2026

Delhi, India: India’s leading airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, have raised strong objections to newly implemented Flight Duty Time

Delhi, India: Nearly 50% of Indian commercial aircraft audited by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been identified with recurring technical defects, according to figures presented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The disclosures, based on inspections conducted between January 2025 and 3 February 2026, underscore heightened regulatory scrutiny of airline maintenance practices across the country. The DGCA analysed 754 aircraft belonging to six scheduled carriers for repetitive snags during routine safety checks and surveillance audits of these, 377 aircraft roughly half were found to have recurring defects, defined as technical issues that appeared repeatedly on the same aircraft despite previous corrective actions. Detailed airline-wise figures presented in Parliament show: IndiGo: 405 aircraft analysed, 148 flagged for recurring defects Air India: 166 analysed, 137 flagged Air India Express: 101 analysed, 54 flagged SpiceJet: 43 analysed, 16 flagged Akasa Air: 32 analysed, 14 flagged Government sources pointed out that many of the recurring issues relate to maintenance and equipment malfunctions. In the case of Air India, a spokesperson noted that most defects were in lower-priority “Category D” items such as seating equipment, tray tables and in-flight entertainment screens, which are not directly linked to aircraft safety. Repetitive defects can range in severity, but their recurrence suggests that root-cause analysis and corrective action may not always be sufficient or timely. To reinforce compliance and safety standards, the DGCA said it conducted an extensive set of oversight activities over the last year, including: 3,890 surveillance inspections 56 regulatory audits 84 checks of foreign aircraft (SOFA) 492 ramp inspections 874 spot checks and 550 night surveillance exercises The regulator is mandated to monitor and enforce compliance with civil aviation requirements, and flagged deficiencies are expected to be followed up with corrective action and enforcement where necessary. The audit findings come at a time when India’s aviation safety ecosystem faces sustained scrutiny following a series of reported technical events and operational challenges. In early February, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner was temporarily grounded after a potential fuel control switch defect was reported by pilots following a London–Bengaluru flight. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has sought detailed explanations from the carrier. Additionally, passenger flight disruptions and operational bottlenecks at several airlines in recent months have fueled public and political examination of maintenance practices and regulatory readiness. Airline officials, particularly from the Air India Group, have stressed that rigorous checks and proactive inspections account for higher flagged numbers, and that many findings relate to cabin-level equipment rather than flight-critical systems. IndiGo has not publicly responded to The recurring defects should not necessarily be conflated with immediate safety risks, but they highlight the importance of systematic maintenance quality, effective root-cause resolution, and consistent compliance with global safety standards.

DGCA Says 377 Of 754 Indian Commercial Aircrafts Show Recurring Technical Defects

Aviation Today News Desk February 6, 2026

Delhi, India: Nearly 50% of Indian commercial aircraft audited by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been identified with

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India

Govt Removes Fare Caps As Airlines Oppose 60% Seats Free Of Selection Charges

India Aviation Sector Losses Cross ₹24,000 Crore In 3 Years; ₹10,000 Crore More Likely

India Mandates 60% Seats Free of Selection Charges, Ensures Same PNR Seating Together

IndiGo Tops India In Pilot Numbers But Has Lowest Pilot-To-Aircraft Ratio At 7.6

DGCA Issues Safety Warning To Charter Operators After Decade-Long Accident Data Review

India Revises Airline Refund Rules, Introduces 48-Hour Free Cancellation Window

India Has 25,001 Active Pilots As Fleet Growth Accelerates; Employment Data Missing

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Flag DGCA’s Revised FDTL Framework As More Restrictive

DGCA Says 377 Of 754 Indian Commercial Aircrafts Show Recurring Technical Defects

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