India aviation news Archives - Page 3 of 3

Mumbai, India: Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has officially commenced commercial flight operations, marking a major milestone in India’s aviation infrastructure expansion and easing long-standing capacity constraints in the Mumbai metropolitan region. On its first full day of scheduled operations, the airport handled 48 domestic flights, collectively serving more than 4,000 passengers, according to officials and airline data. The launch positions Mumbai as India’s first true dual-airport metropolitan region, complementing the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). The inaugural commercial arrival was an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru, which landed earlier in the day and received a ceremonial water salute. Other carriers operating from NMIA on day one included Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air, offering connectivity to multiple domestic destinations. Initial operations at NMIA are being conducted on a limited daily schedule, with authorities confirming that flight volumes and operating hours will be gradually expanded in the coming weeks. The airport is expected to transition to round-the-clock operations once infrastructure readiness and air traffic coordination are fully optimized. Designed to significantly decongest CSMIA, NMIA will play a central role in accommodating Mumbai’s rapidly growing air travel demand. Once fully developed, the airport is projected to handle tens of millions of passengers annually, with future phases including international passenger services and dedicated cargo operations. Navi Mumbai International Airport is positioning itself as more than a transport hub by embedding culture, hospitality and leisure into the passenger journey from day one. Its non-aeronautical ecosystem introduces India-first concepts such as locally rooted dining brands, personalised meet-and-greet services, an in-terminal transit hotel and immersive cultural zones, reflecting a shift toward experience-led airport design. By integrating rest, retail, art and public spaces into its phased rollout, NMIA aims to redefine how airports engage with both travellers and the city, treating the airport as an extension of urban life rather than a standalone transit facility Aviation and government officials have described the launch as a transformational step for the region’s mobility ecosystem. By redistributing domestic traffic between two airports, authorities expect improved operational efficiency, reduced congestion, and better on-time performance for airlines operating in and out of Mumbai. The airport is also expected to act as a catalyst for economic development in Navi Mumbai, supporting employment generation, real estate growth, and logistics expansion.

Navi Mumbai Airport Begins Operations With 48 Flights, Serving Over 4k Passengers Daily

Aviation Today News Desk / December 26, 2025

Mumbai, India: Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has officially commenced commercial flight operations, marking a major milestone in India’s aviation […]

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, faced severe operational disruption on Thursday as flight cancellations mounted for a fourth consecutive day, with media reports estimating that cumulative cancellations during the multi-day disruption crossed the 550 flight mark nationwide. The impact was most visible at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, where nearly 200 flights were cancelled during the day, according to airport-level data. Long queues, missed connections and delayed rebookings were reported across terminals as the airline struggled to stabilise operations. IndiGo issued a public apology for the disruption and said it was working closely with airport authorities and regulators to restore normal schedules and minimise passenger inconvenience. The airline has been grappling with mounting operational stress over the past several days, driven largely by crew availability constraints and scheduling challenges following the implementation of stricter pilot duty and rest norms. Officials said the cascading effect of earlier cancellations further worsened aircraft and crew rotations across the network. Airport-wise data showed that Mumbai alone accounted for 86 cancellations, Bengaluru saw 73, and Delhi recorded over 30 cancellations, highlighting the scale of network-wide disruption at India’s busiest aviation hubs. The multi-day turmoil has left thousands of passengers stranded, with severe delays, missed connections, and cascading operational failures across the carrier’s domestic network. The flight cancellations followed a dramatic collapse in punctuality earlier in the week. On Wednesday, December 3, IndiGo’s on-time performance (OTP) plunged to just 19.7%, its lowest level in years. This marked a steep fall from 35% recorded a day earlier, indicating a rapid deterioration in schedule reliability. With fewer than one in five flights operating on time, IndiGo, once regarded as India’s most punctual airline, saw its reputation for schedule discipline severely eroded within 48 hours. For Thursday, December 4, sustained cancellations, rolling delays and aircraft rotation failures across multiple cities throughout the day indicated that punctuality remained under acute pressure. The crisis has been triggered primarily by an acute shortage of available pilots following the implementation of stricter crew duty and rest regulations. IndiGo underestimated the number of additional pilots required to sustain its high-frequency schedule under the new regulatory framework. As a result, the airline was left with little buffer once the stricter rest rules became enforceable. Once the first wave of cancellations began, the crisis escalated rapidly through cascading operational failures, including aircraft misplacement, delayed crew handovers, disrupted maintenance windows, and congestion at high-density airports. These knock-on effects compounded recovery efforts and caused rolling delays across multiple flight banks through the day. The underlying trigger for the disruption lies in the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms introduced by the DGCA, aimed at strengthening aviation safety by reducing fatigue-related risks for pilots. The second and most stringent phase of these rules came into force on November 1, 2025. Under the revised framework, pilots are mandated to receive 48 consecutive hours of weekly rest, face tighter limits on consecutive night duties, and are subject to caps on night landings and duty extensions. While the industry had advance notice of the regulatory changes, IndiGo’s internal staffing preparedness appears to have fallen short. Officials said the airline had operated with a very thin standby crew margin even before the new norms were enforced, leaving it vulnerable to large-scale disruption once pilot availability dropped. With passenger inconvenience mounting and network stability deteriorating, the DGCA has now stepped in to closely supervise IndiGo’s recovery plan. The regulator has directed the airline to submit a detailed mitigation strategy covering crew hiring, training schedules and revised rostering practices. DGCA is planning to grant IndiGo a temporary, conditional waiver from certain pilot rest provisions to arrest further operational collapse. The proposed relief is expected to be short-term and tightly monitored, with compliance milestones linked to crew augmentation and scheduling corrections. The regulator has made it clear that safety standards will not be permanently diluted and that any relaxation will be transitional. IndiGo has informed authorities that it expects phased stabilisation of its network by February 10, 2026, subject to successful induction of additional crew and progressive restoration of flight rotations. The disruption at IndiGo which operates over 2,000 flights daily and carries more than half of India’s domestic air passengers has sent ripples through the aviation sector. While the FDTL norms are widely seen as a necessary safety reform, the crisis has exposed the operational vulnerability of airlines that expand capacity faster than manpower buffers. For passengers, uncertainty is likely to continue in the near term. Aviation officials have advised travellers to monitor flight status closely and exercise refund and rebooking rights in the event of cancellations as IndiGo works to stabilise its schedule.

Airlines

IndiGo Cancels 550 Flights Nationwide; DGCA Grants Temporary Pilot Rest Rule Waiver

Aviation Today News Desk / December 5, 2025

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, faced severe operational disruption on Thursday as flight cancellations mounted for a fourth

New Delhi, India: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is facing strong resistance from pilot unions after it approved a rule extending the maximum flight duty period for Boeing 787 crews by half an hour a move pilots warn could heighten fatigue and compromise flight safety. Under the revised guidelines, the DGCA has increased the permissible flight time for two-pilot operations on Boeing 787 aircraft from 10 hours to 10 hours 30 minutes, and the overall Flight Duty Period (FDP) from 13 hours to 14 hours. The amendment, issued late last week, comes just months before the regulator’s new fatigue management norms under Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) 2024 are scheduled to take effect. Pilot associations, including the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA-India) and the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), have urged the DGCA to immediately withdraw the extension, calling it “a dangerous precedent that undermines scientific fatigue management.” “This change ignores well-documented evidence linking fatigue with reduced alertness and safety margins, especially during long-haul night operations,” ALPA-India said in a statement. “The Boeing 787’s in-flight rest facilities are already inadequate due to seat recline restrictions, and any increase in flight duty time will directly affect pilot alertness.” The union referred to an FAA airworthiness directive that restricted the reclining function of cockpit rest seats on Boeing 787s, limiting proper rest opportunities for pilots during cruise segments. The Federation of Indian Pilots separately warned that any delay in implementing the full CAR 2024 fatigue norms which had been promised in court could amount to contempt of court. The federation said the DGCA had earlier assured the Bombay High Court that it would enforce the revised duty-time limitations to align with international best practices. As the implementation date for CAR 2024 nears, pilot groups insist that fatigue management should remain rooted in science not scheduling convenience. “Adding half an hour to an already stretched limit is not operational flexibility; it’s operational fatigue,” one senior wide-body pilot told. A DGCA official maintained that the amendment was based on operational data and “falls within safe international norms.” The regulator also reiterated that the upcoming CAR 2024 norms would introduce a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) to supplement prescriptive duty limits with data-driven fatigue monitoring.

Pilots

Pilots Warn Of Fatigue Risks As DGCA Extends Flight Duty Hours For Boeing 787 Crews

Aviation Today News Desk / October 31, 2025

New Delhi, India: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is facing strong resistance from pilot unions

Chennai, India: An IndiGo flight traveling from Mumbai to Phuket was forced to make an emergency landing in Chennai on Thursday following a bomb scare, authorities confirmed. The Airbus A320 aircraft, operating flight 6E 1089, was carrying 176 passengers and six crew members when the threat was identified mid-air. The flight departed Mumbai at 3:33 PM and was over the Bay of Bengal when the crew was alerted to a possible explosive device in the aircraft's lavatory. The pilot promptly diverted the aircraft to Chennai, ensuring a safe landing at 7:20 PM local time. Passengers were safely deboarded and moved to the airport lounge as security procedures were initiated. Following the landing, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deployed its bomb disposal unit along with sniffer dogs to thoroughly inspect the aircraft. The investigation revealed that the threat was a hoax. Officials continue to investigate the origin of the threatening email and are working to identify the individual responsible. Due to a night curfew at Phuket airport, the flight’s onward journey was postponed until later in the evening. IndiGo assured passengers that efforts were being made to minimize inconvenience, including providing refreshments and continuous updates throughout the delay. Months ago, on April 8 2025 an IndiGo flight operating from Jaipur to Mumbai was forced to make an emergency landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Monday evening after a bomb threat note was discovered onboard. The aircraft, flight 6E 5324, was carrying 225 passengers and landed safely at approximately 8:50 p.m. Once the plane landed, it was promptly guided to a remote bay for a comprehensive security sweep. Passengers were then safely disembarked under the careful supervision of security personnel.

Incidents

Bomb Scare Forces IndiGo Flight from Mumbai to Phuket to Divert to Chennai

Aviation Today News Desk / September 21, 2025

Chennai, India: An IndiGo flight traveling from Mumbai to Phuket was forced to make an emergency landing in Chennai on

New Delhi, India: The 56th GST Council has approved major reforms to India’s indirect tax regime, introducing a uniform 5% GST rate on all drones and granting a full GST exemption on flight simulators and motion simulators. The Civil Aviation Ministry called the decision a strategic, principled and citizen-centric evolution of India’s landmark tax framework, aimed at supporting the country’s rapidly growing drone ecosystem and strengthening the aviation training sector. Under the previous structure, drones with integrated cameras attracted 18% GST, while drones classified for personal use were taxed at 28%. The newly rationalized regime applies a flat 5% GST to all drones, irrespective of whether a camera is integrated or separate, and regardless of commercial or personal use. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu hailed the decision, saying, “The GST rate rationalization with a simplified two-slab structure of 5% and 18% is the biggest reform in India’s indirect taxation ever. Under the strong leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are charting the path towards our goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 with Atmanirbhar Bharat as its foundation. The sweeping rate reductions across sectors will strengthen ease of living, ease of compliance and ease of doing business in the country. It is going to be a big boon for the consumers and at the same time a big boost for the Indian manufacturers. This significant measure will also enable India to emerge as a leader in transformative technologies like drones. A uniform 5% GST will now apply on all drones, providing significant policy certainty and eliminating classification disputes. Furthermore, flight simulators and motion simulators which are critical for pilot training have also been exempted from GST. I believe it will encourage the training ecosystem in the country, helping airlines and academies reduce expenditure on training equipment.” According to the ministry, the reforms will provide greater clarity for manufacturers and lower costs for users, boosting drone adoption in agriculture, petroleum, mining, infrastructure, logistics, and defense. Affordable drones and reduced training costs are also expected to advance Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals, while creating employment opportunities in manufacturing, assembly, software development, data analytics, and field operations. Officials said the revised rates will make GST more growth-oriented for aviation and emerging technologies like UAVs, recognizing drones as both an economic opportunity and a strategic necessity for India.

Pilot Training

Pilot Training May Get Cheaper as Flight and Motion Simulators Gain Tax Exemption

Aviation Today News Desk / September 10, 2025

New Delhi, India: The 56th GST Council has approved major reforms to India’s indirect tax regime, introducing a uniform 5%

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued four show-cause notices to Air India citing violations of pilot rest norms, training requirements and cabin crew deployment, calling them systemic lapses that could compromise flight safety. These notices follow voluntary disclosures by Air India just days before a scheduled regulatory audit of its Delhi operations, covering incidents from 2023 and 2024. Sources reviewed by Economic Times indicate pilots in multiple instances exceeded weekly duty hour limits, including flights operated on June 24, 2024, and June 15, 2025, without the mandated rest periods. The regulator also noted that pilots who had completed simulator training failed to commence active flying within the specified timeframe, rendering the training invalid. Additionally, at least 17 pilots operated into and out of Kathmandu without mandatory high-altitude airport simulation training, despite its complex terrain and special approach requirements. Cabin crew shortages were also reported on four ultra-long-haul flights to North America in April and May, which were operated with as few as 12 cabin crew members, instead of the required 15. The DGCA has characterized these as serious procedural breaches and gave Air India two weeks to submit explanations and corrective plans. Failure to comply could lead to penalties, leadership accountability measures and further regulatory action. The regulator’s notices add to a series of safety-related actions taken against Air India in 2025, including nine show-cause notices in the first half of the year alone. These issues have gained urgency following the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI 171 near Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people and has become India’s deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade. The accident has intensified scrutiny of Air India’s governance, safety oversight and crew management practices. In a statement, Air India confirmed receipt of the notices and stressed that all violations were voluntarily disclosed as part of its internal compliance checks. The airline said it remains committed to passenger and crew safety and is implementing measures to prevent recurrence. The DGCA has warned that repeated violations despite earlier advisories point to systemic governance failures and could result in stricter enforcement, fines and even leadership restructuring if compliance gaps remain unaddressed.

Airlines

DGCA Pulls Up Air India for Violating Pilot Rest, Training and Crew Deployment Rules

Aviation Today News Desk / July 28, 2025

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued four show-cause notices to Air India citing violations

India aviation news

Navi Mumbai Airport Begins Operations With 48 Flights, Serving Over 4k Passengers Daily

IndiGo Cancels 550 Flights Nationwide; DGCA Grants Temporary Pilot Rest Rule Waiver

Pilots Warn Of Fatigue Risks As DGCA Extends Flight Duty Hours For Boeing 787 Crews

Bomb Scare Forces IndiGo Flight from Mumbai to Phuket to Divert to Chennai

Pilot Training May Get Cheaper as Flight and Motion Simulators Gain Tax Exemption

DGCA Pulls Up Air India for Violating Pilot Rest, Training and Crew Deployment Rules

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