The clearance comes amid heightened scrutiny of India’s aviation ecosystem following widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo earlier this month, triggered by changes in flight duty and operational rules. Against this backdrop, the government’s decision signals an effort to strengthen capacity and competition in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed the development in a post on X, stating that he had met representatives of the three airlines over the past week. He noted that Shankh Air had already received its NOC earlier, while Kerala-based Al Hind Air and FlyExpress were granted their certificates this week. The minister reiterated that encouraging new airlines remains a priority for the ministry, highlighting government initiatives such as the UDAN regional connectivity scheme, which has previously supported smaller carriers including Star Air, India One Air and Fly91.
For Al Hind Air, however, the NOC marks only an initial regulatory milestone. A no-objection certificate does not permit an airline to begin commercial flight operations. To launch services, the carrier must still secure an Air Operator Permit (AOP), also referred to as an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This process involves stringent checks related to aircraft acquisition, safety compliance, operational readiness and financial capability, and has proven to be a major hurdle for several start-up airlines in the past.
Al Hind Air is currently working with aviation regulators to complete these remaining approvals. While the airline has indicated its intention to commence operations within the year, the timeline remains uncertain, particularly with only a few days left in the calendar year, making a delay increasingly likely.
The granting of NOCs to Al Hind Air, Shankh Air and FlyExpress underscores the government’s push to broaden India’s aviation landscape at a time of rising passenger demand and infrastructure expansion. If these carriers successfully navigate the remaining regulatory steps, their entry could enhance connectivity, ease capacity pressures and add momentum to India’s evolving aviation market.
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