New airlines keen to enter the perilous Indian aviation fray

There are literally dozens of Indian airlines that have either gone broke, or been taken over.

High operating costs, volatile fuel prices, thin margins, regulatory pressure, and fierce competition make aviation one of the toughest industries.

Over the past quarter century, nine Indian carriers have disappeared entirely including Air Sahara, Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Vistara.

That said, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation this week gave initial approval for two start-up airlines to compete with troubled market leader IndiGo and Air India.

It granted alHind Air and FlyExpress no-objection certificates, which is the initial step prior to securing a full air operator certificate, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Consumer groups and industry analysts have called for more market competition following the fallout of IndiGo's Scheduling woes over the past few weeks.

IndiGo has a dominant 65% share of the market. Air India is a distant second, with less than 30% share.

Regional startup alHind Air plans to start flying turboprop services in southern India while FlyExpress has not yet given any comprehensive details of its operational plans.

alHind says its will "begin its journey with a fleet of ATR 72- 600 model aircraft, initially focusing on providing efficient and reliable domestic air travel. With plans to expand its services to international destinations in the near future, alHindair aims to meet the growing demands of passengers and establish itself as a trusted name in the aviation sector".

Air safety officials axed after Indian flight chaos

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has dismissed four officials overseeing IndiGo operations amid ongoing flight disruptions and cancellations across the country. .

Four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) responsible for supervising operations at IndiGo, India's largest airline, are victims of the ongoing chaos, the India News Network reported.

“Contracts of these FOIs with the DGCA have been terminated in relation to the recent IndiGo crisis,” an DGCA spokesperson said.

The decision came in the wake of significant operational challenges that have led to widespread flight cancellations and delays over the past week.

The FOIs, who are senior pilots assigned to monitor the airline’s compliance with regulatory requirements, were tasked with ensuring IndiGo had the necessary crew resources for safe operations.

But the DGCA has returned them to their previous airline roles before the completion of their terms.

Local media reports indicate that the airline failed to adequately prepare for new flight duty time limitations (FDTL) set to take effect in July and November 2025.

These new regulations required IndiGo to hire additional pilots to comply with increased crew requirements.

Officials familiar with the matter said, the FOIs did not adequately address this critical issue, contributing to a pilot shortfall that hindered the airline's ability to operate effectively under the new rules.

As a result, the DGCA temporarily suspended the implementation of the new FDTL for Airbus A320 aircraft until February 2026 to prevent further operational disruptions.

So business first. Safety second?

IndiGo is working to stabilise its operations, with over 2,050 flights scheduled across 138 destinations on a single day.

IndiGo is one of the largest airlines in Asia with 64.2% domestic market share as of August. 

New safety rules? This airline just can't cope

Planning to fly with India's largest airline over the next couple of months?

Good luck with that.

IndiGo has apologised to passengers following several days of major fight disruptions and cancellations and said it may be month before its full schedule is back to normal.

IndiGo "deeply regrets the inconvenience caused", the airline said.

It cited the new pilot duty rules as a major factor, along with bad weather, and some technical issues, news hub Travel Mole reported.

The airline’s troubles stem largely from newly phased-in rules for flight crew which mandate extended rest periods and layovers.

Following emergency talks with the Indian Aviation Ministry, IndiGo said it will proactively cut its number of scheduled flights starting from December 8 in a bid to reduce cancellations.

So cancellations to reduce cancellations.

The airline has said it expects to resume its full flight schedule in February 2026.

IndiGo normally operates about 2,300 flights on average a day. It had reportedly cancelled over 900 flights in just four days leading into the weekend.

IndiGo, despite nearly two years’ notice, is struggling to make a successful transition to meet the new safety rules, Flight Radar reports.

Sorry; your airline forgot to offload your luggage

Error-prone Indian airline IndiGo came under fire after forgetting to offload passenger baggage and taking off again with their suitcases still on board.

The blunder came just a few weeks after IndiGo neglected to put an elderly couple on their connecting flight to India at Istanbul airport a few weeks ago, The Times of India reported.

The IndiGo international flight bound for Bengaluru, India had to make a U-turn to Singapore Changi Airport after the error.

Not long after take off it had to return to Changi after the carrier "forgot to offload luggage" from a previous international flight.

The Airbus A321neo landed back at Changi about one hour after it took off.

It contributed to a four-hour delay for passengers - and a very long wait for passengers at the baggage carousel.

It is unclear how the bags remained on board.

“We acknowledge the baggage error on part of our service partners at Singapore airport and we sincerely regret the inconvenience,” the airline said.

IndiGo is India’s largest airline operating up to 2,000 flights daily.

Australia's first Indigo hotel celebrates Adelaide culture

I've stayed in a couple of Indigo properties; most notably an excellent one in Shanghai. 

Now IHG Hotels & Resorts' boutique lifestyle hotel brand is set to debut in Australia. 

The Hotel Indigo Adelaide Market - opening its doors on March 1 - is a boutique 145-room property located next to Adelaide Central Market. 

It will offers a design inspired by area's industrial heritage and will feature Adelaide's highest rooftop bar, Merrymaker, with a raw food focus and sweeping city views. 

There will also be a ground-floor restaurant, Market and Meander, showcasing regional produce, spirits and beers (sounds very Easton West). 

The hotel's public spaces will feature brick archways mimicking those in the adjacent market and street art-inspired murals. 

Adelaide Festival-inspired poster art will adorn corridors and rooms, while a rotating selection of artworks will create an engaging, ever-changing backdrop in public spaces.

“Hotel Indigo has paved its way across the globe as a truly fascinating brand designed to draw inspiration and spark curiosity from the roots of its surrounding neighbourhoods," said general manager Thomas Zinn. 

"With our ideal location right next door to the iconic Adelaide Central Market and near the newly renovated Her Majesty's Theatre, Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets will be the perfect escape for visitors and locals looking for a new way to connect with Adelaide.” 

In addition to the hotel's food options, the neighbourhood's laneways are lined with inviting bars and eateries. 

The hotel is also walking distance from many of the city's big-ticket attractions including Rundle Mall, Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Zoo and Art Gallery of South Australia. It also has convenient transport access with a free CBD tram stop nearby.

In addition to a 24/7 fitness centre, the property will have a 13-metre outdoor infinity pool, two boardroom-style meeting rooms and the option to hold events on the mezzanine level and rooftop. 

King standard rooms start from $250 per night.

For further information visit  www.hotelindigo.com/storiesforthecurious