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India Keeps Close Watch on West Asia Situation; Airlines Adjust Operations
Civil Aviation Ministry DGCA

India Keeps Close Watch on West Asia Situation; Airlines Adjust Operations

The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry is monitoring the situation in West Asia and its possible impact on air travel between India and other West Asian nations. The Minister of Civil Aviation is overseeing the situation and is in contact with airlines and other stakeholders to ensure coordinated and timely responses. As stated by the ministry, passenger safety and service remain top priorities as airlines make operational adjustments in light of the evolving situation. Operational data from March 9 displays that 45 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in India from West Asia, carrying 7,407 passengers. To allow safe and flexible flight operations, Indian carriers have sought operational flexibility. The DGCA has coordinated with the applicable authorities to assign supplementary arrival and departure slots. Airlines are also allowed to use Muscat International Airport as an alternate airport for flights to and from destinations for example Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain, Fujairah, Jeddah, and Medina. Airlines have also planned to expand connectivity to the region. Air India and Air India Express will begin operating flights to Riyadh from March 12, while IndiGo will launch Mumbai–Riyadh–Mumbai services. SpiceJet has received approvals for alternate airports to uphold operational safety and flexibility. Akasa Air, which plans to begin Mumbai–Riyadh–Mumbai services from March 12, has been advised to align its launch with standard operational conditions. The ministry said it is maintaining regular coordination with airlines and other stakeholders to ensure orderly passenger movement. Airfares are also being closely monitored to avert any unreasonable increase in ticket prices throughout the period. Passengers should stay in contact with their respective airlines for updates regarding flight schedules and travel arrangements. The government said it will review the situation and issue further updates as necessary.   Source: DD News

Saheel Singh 11 Mar 2026
Ahmedabad Dreamliner Crash Report Likely by Year-End
Civil Aviation Ministry Civil Aviation Minister

Ahmedabad Dreamliner Crash Report Likely by Year-End

The Indian Civil Aviation Minister, K Rammohan Naidu, on 9th March 2026, informed the Rajya Sabha that the investigation into the crash of Air India flight AI171 is progressing well and that the investigation report will be released by the end of this year. Naidu said the government is offering all necessary support to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, conducting the investigation. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed soon after take-off on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew. The AAIB is examining the accident. Responding to queries about the influence of tensions in West Asia on flight operations, Naidu said the DGCA immediately engaged with airlines and issued advisories to guarantee passenger safety. He said the DGCA held several meetings with airline executives to guarantee that flights to airports in the region operate only when "100% safety" can be guaranteed. Travel advisories have also been issued to avoid confusion, the minister added. Naidu said the Ministry of Civil Aviation is working with airlines to help bring back Indians stuck in West Asia amid the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, which has led to extensive airspace closures across the region. As stated by the minister, about 90,000 passengers have travelled to India in the past week as airlines adjusted operations and secured flight slots despite the crisis-related disturbances. The minister also informed the house that the future Noida International Airport has received its aerodrome license from the DGCA and will be active in 45 days, after consultations with agencies including the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Airports Authority of India. He added that the government is also planning a key inauguration event for the airport, which will further promote the project in UP. Speaking about the long-term growth of India's aviation industry as part of India’s development vision for 2047, Naidu said the government plans a notable expansion of airport infrastructure. Highlighting the sector's development, the minister said India's civil aviation industry is among the fastest-growing. Currently, about 5 lakh passengers travel domestically daily, while another 1 to 2 lakhs travel internationally. Apart from expanding airports, the government also wants to introduce seaplane operations and boost helicopter services in India. Addressing concerns about aviation safety, Naidu said the DGCA follows a "multi-tier, multi-level, thorough process" and adheres to ICAO safety standards, with strict enforcement mechanisms in place. He added that the DGCA has also strengthened oversight through digital initiatives. One such measure is the "Track by Tail" programme, under which every aircraft is digitally monitored and tracked electronically. The DGCA has also presented an additional layer of inspection through monitoring from its headquarters, allowing double verification of safety checks carried out across the industry. Naidu added that responses from stakeholders, such as the public, are also taken into consideration to further improve aviation safety norms and standards. Source: NDTV

Saheel Singh 10 Mar 2026
DGCA Enhances Monitoring of Airlines to Ensure Compliance with Norms
DGCA Civil Aviation Ministry

DGCA Enhances Monitoring of Airlines to Ensure Compliance with Norms

The civil aviation ministry on 9 th March 2026 said the DGCA has augmented monitoring of critical airline operations, with weekly and fortnightly checks, as well as bi-monthly visits by DGCA inspectors to airlines' offices to ensure compliance with regulations. Responding to an enquiry in the Rajya Sabha for the significant disruptions at IndiGo in December 2025 and action taken to avert recurrence of a similar situation in the future, Union Miinster Murlidhar Mohol said the key causes for the disruption were over-optimization of operations, insufficient regulatory preparedness accompanied by deficiencies in system software support and shortcomings in management structure and operational control on the part of the airline. "DGCA has presented more robust measures to guarantee compliance by airlines with regulations, including increased monitoring weekly and fortnightly for critical operations, together with bi-monthly visits to the operator by DGCA's principal point-of-contact inspector, to closely monitor the airline's operations, with specific emphasis on roster integrity, crew accessibility, buffer adequacy, system robustness and adherence to FDTL requirements. The Flight Duty Time Limitations norms are executed by the DGCA. In December 2025, IndiGo faced extensive operational disruptions, resulting in several flight cancellations and affecting many passengers. DGCA had also taken numerous regulatory actions against the airline. The Minister of State for Civil Aviation said that a total of 550 Level II repetitive findings, operator- and organization-wise, were identified by the DGCA from 2023-25, and 29 enforcement actions were taken. As of December 31, 2025, no Level-I shortages are pending for closure. A Level-I finding needs immediate attention and rectification and the closure timeline is 7 days, while a Level-II finding must be resolved within a month. "Continued operations are not permitted with a level-I finding without its rectification. Rarely, operations are permitted under controlled/restricted environments. In violations, DGCA initiates enforcement action. against the airline personnel, which might include a warning, suspension, or cancellation of approval, certificate, or license, or the imposition of a financial penalty. Source: Economic Times

Saheel Singh 10 Mar 2026
DGCA Makes Air Ticket Refund Rules Passenger-Friendly
DGCA Rules Ministry Of Civil Aviation

DGCA Makes Air Ticket Refund Rules Passenger-Friendly

The new, more transparent airline ticket refunds are under new rules issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which will greatly benefit Indian air passengers. These new rules allow passengers to cancel or change air tickets without paying anything extra within 48 hours of booking, subject to certain conditions, as the DGCA revised the ticket refund norms for airlines. As stated by the DGCA, any additional amount should not be charged by the airlines to correct the name for the same person when the error is reported within 24 hours of booking, provided the ticket was booked through the airline's website. The Civil Aviation Requirement, effective immediately, sets clear timelines and obligations for airlines operating domestic and international flights to and from India. CAR Minimum Requirements If a ticket is bought with credit card payments, the airline is entitled to refund the credit card holder within a week of the cancellation to the account associated with the credit card. When the transaction is done in cash, the refund shall be made immediately by the airline's office from where the ticket was purchased. If the air tickets are booked by a travel agent or portal, the refund shall be made by the airlines, as agents are their representatives. The airlines shall guarantee that the entire process is completed within 14 working days.   It is mandatory for an airline to provide a "Look-in option" for 48 hours after the ticket is booked.   During this period, passengers can cancel or amend the ticket without paying any extra amount, except the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight to which the ticket is amended. This facility is not available for flights departing within a week for domestic or 15 days for international travel from the booking date when tickets are booked through an airline's website. After 2 days from booking, this option is no longer available, and the relevant cancellation fees apply to amendments. It is the passenger's choice, not the airline's default practice, to hold the refund amount in a credit shell. The airline shall refund all taxes to the passengers in case of cancellation/non-utilizations of tickets/no-show. This shall also apply to all types of fares, including promos/special fares and non-refundable basic fares. According to the circular, the airlines should clearly specify the refund amount allowable on ticket cancellation. The amount and its break-up might be shown on the ticket or a separate form. The refund policy and refund amount should also be displayed on the airline's website. Cancellation charges must be indicated at the time of booking. The cancellation fees should not exceed the basic fare plus fuel surcharge. This excludes any charges charged by the travel agent, which should be disclosed at booking. The airline should ensure this through contracts with travel agents and portals.   Source: NDTV

Saheel Singh 27 Feb 2026
Indian Airlines Served 352 Show Cause Notices By DGCA Over Last 2 Years, Reveals Civil Aviation Ministry
DGCA DGCA Rules

Indian Airlines Served 352 Show Cause Notices By DGCA Over Last 2 Years, Reveals Civil Aviation Ministry

The DGCA has issued 352 show cause notices to scheduled commercial airlines in 2024 and 2025. The regulator reprimanded Indian airlines in 139 cases and issued warnings in 113. Data Tabled in the Rajya Sabha The information was discovered in the latest data released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the Rajya Sabha on 8 th February 2026 while replying to a question by MP Saket Gokhale. Airlines-Wise Break-Up As shown in the data, the highest number of notices were issued to the Air India Group, 84 to Air India, 65 to Air India Express, and 7 to AIX Connect, which has now merged into Air India Express. IndiGo, India’s largest carrier by market share, issued 98 notices over the 2-year period. Penalties and Suspensions Of the 352 notices issued to commercial airlines, the DGCA penalized 139 and issued warnings in 113. In 33 cases, the DGCA ordered suspension, while in 15 cases, approvals were withdrawn. Regulatory Monitoring “Real-time monitoring of surveillance actions is carried out by DGCA through the MIS portal obtainable on the eGCA portal,” stated Minister Mohol in a written reply. Source: NDTV

Saheel Singh 11 Feb 2026
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