Ankit Kumar

India is indeed welcoming three new airlines in 2025, which will enhance competition and accessibility in the aviation market. Shankh Air -Uttar Pradesh's first scheduled full-service airline, operating from Noida Jewar International Airport. It plans to connect major cities within UP and key metro destinations across India, with international expansion targeted for 2027. Initial funding includes $50 million from Chairman Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma and an additional $200 million pledge from its parent company. Air Kerala India's first ultra-low-cost carrier, focusing on connecting Kerala's smaller cities with major hubs before expanding internationally in 2026. Initially conceptualized by the Kerala government in 2005, it's now being launched by UAE-based entrepreneurs under Zettfly Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Alhind Air- A regional commuter airline from Kerala, operating from Cochin International Airport with plans to expand to Gulf countries within two years. Founded by the Calicut-based Alhind Group, it aims to provide passengers with an enhanced travel experience emphasizing reliability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. These airlines have received no objection certificates from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and are awaiting their air operator certificates from the Director General of Civil Aviation before officially launching operations.

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DGCA Issues Show Cause Notice to Air India Limited 📍 A Wake-Up Call or the Beginning of Stricter Oversight? India's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a show cause notice to Air India, raising serious concerns about safety lapses and operational shortcomings. From technical snags to crew fatigue and recent incidents that have drawn public outrage, this move signals that regulatory bodies are now tightening the leash on compliance and passenger safety. 💬 This brings up critical questions: Are Indian airlines being pushed too hard to cut costs? Is safety being compromised for commercial gains? What accountability measures must be put in place to prevent another Jet Airways or Kingfisher-style collapse? As stakeholders in the aviation, travel, and corporate sectors — we must not treat this lightly. 🛫 Passenger safety isn’t optional. It's non-negotiable. Let this be a moment of reflection and reform. #AirIndia #DGCA #AviationSafety #IndianAviation #AirlineAccountability #FlyingCrews #ShowCauseNotice #AviationNews #TravelIndustry #ComplianceMatters

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Strengthening Freight Security Dr. A. N. Jha, IG-RPF & GGM (Security), along with Sh. Ashish Mishra, GM (Security); Sh. Jitendra Srivastav, GM and Sh. Sandeep Ravivanshi, GM; met with Ms. Sonali Mishra, IPS, DG-RPF and Sh. Sarvapriya Mayank, ADG-RPF at Rail Bhavan. The dialogue focused on strengthening security frameworks across DFCCIL’s Dedicated Freight Corridors and protecting vital infrastructure. DG-RPF emphasized the importance of deploying cutting-edge surveillance and security technologies to proactively manage risks and safeguard national logistics assets. #DFCCIL #SustainableLogistics #MakeInIndia #EnablingChange #IndianRailways #TransformingTransportation #gamechanger

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GMR Delhi Airport’s international traffic tells a powerful story — not just of scale, but of strategic depth. Over 65% of Delhi’s international traffic is linked to countries with a GDP per capita above $15,000, including ~20% from the world’s wealthiest economies. This global mix reflects Delhi’s growing role as a hub connecting India to high-income, high-potential markets. But there’s more to the story. With ~60% of international passengers being resident Indians, Delhi’s traffic is not just affluent in origin, it’s also globally engaged at home. Whether it’s business, leisure, or visiting friends and family, Delhi travelers today are more connected, discerning, and globally mobile than ever before. This unique blend of high-income origin markets and a confident, upwardly mobile Indian traveler base makes Delhi one of the most commercially attractive airports in the region. Delhi airport represents both quality and scale, a rare combination in emerging market aviation. #AviationStrategy #AirportDevelopment #TravelTrends #IndianAviation #RouteDevelopment #DutyFree #TravelRetail #DelhiAirport #EmergingMarkets #PassengerExperience #mohammadaskari

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India’s largest airline is under serious scrutiny after days of airport chaos, long queues, angry passengers, and hundreds of cancelled flights. The DGCA has now issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s top management , questioning why the airline failed to manage crew schedules under the new FDTL rules, rules that define pilot working hours and rest time. According to the regulator, IndiGo did not prepare adequate crew arrangements when the updated guidelines kicked in, leading to massive disruptions across major airports. On top of that, DGCA says the airline did not properly support stranded passengers, many of whom were left confused and without timely updates. Now, IndiGo has been given 24 hours to explain what went wrong. Refunds are being processed, but with a regulatory inquiry underway, pressure on the airline is only growing. What happens next will depend on the response, and whether IndiGo can prove it took the right steps. India’s busiest airline is facing one of its toughest tests yet.

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How Indian Railways Can Turn the IndiGo Disruption into a National Opportunity The ongoing disruption in India’s aviation sector—especially the large-scale IndiGo cancellations—has caused genuine hardship to thousands of travellers. While airlines struggle to manage operations, this disruption also opens up an important opportunity for Indian Railways to step in as a stabilising force for the nation. Here’s how Indian Railways can not only provide immediate relief to stranded passengers, but also strengthen its revenues, brand, and public trust: 1️⃣ Run Special “Aviation Relief Trains” on High-Demand Sectors Routes like Delhi–Mumbai, Delhi–Bengaluru, Kolkata–Delhi, Chennai–Mumbai, Hyderabad–Delhi can see special overnight premium trains with dynamic pricing. Passengers stuck due to flight cancellations will gladly opt for a safe, predictable alternative. 2️⃣ Partner with MMT, Cleartrip, IRCTC & OTA Platforms A real-time integration that allows stranded passengers to instantly book premium trains when flights disappear. This is an easy win—tech already exists. 3️⃣ Offer Priority Berths for Stranded Flyers A simple verification (cancelled flight PNR + boarding pass/email) can unlock: ✔ Tatkal-like quota ✔ Guaranteed seats/berths on select trains ✔ Business Traveller compartments in premium classes (EC/1AC) This builds trust and positions Railways as the nation’s backbone. 4️⃣ Smart PR: “Railways Has Your Back” Campaign This is the perfect time for an assertive, empathetic communication: “When the skies are uncertain, the tracks are steady.” The story writes itself. 5️⃣ Monetise the Surge—But Transparently Premium relief trains can bring significant new revenue, all while maintaining affordability. Earn, but ethically—and earn goodwill. 6️⃣ Capture Business Travel Market Temporarily Addicted to Air Many corporate travellers take flights only because they believe railways are slow or inconvenient. A quick, targeted marketing push around: ✔ Overnight business travel ✔ Zero security delays ✔ Reliable departure/arrival can convert thousands who are frustrated with cancellations. 7️⃣ Reinforce the National Role of Railways Crises always reveal the backbone of a country. This is a chance for Indian Railways to remind the nation—and the world—that it remains the most dependable mode of mass transport. The Bigger Picture - Transportation ecosystems are interconnected. When one mode collapses temporarily, another must step up. Indian Railways can turn this disruption into a moment of: Public service, Brand elevation, Institutional leadership. And most importantly, help thousands of ordinary travellers who simply need to get home, get to work, or get on with their lives. This is more than an operational opportunity—it is a nation-building moment waiting to be seized.

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Black box data from Air India AI-171 crash retrieved; analysis begins at AAIB Delhi. CVR and FDR insights to aid probe into the June 12 crash that killed 271. Investigation includes NTSB, follows ICAO rules, and aims to uncover technical or systemic causes to boost aviation safety. Financial Express (India) Directorate General of Civil Aviation - India #AirIndia171 #CrashInvestigation #AviationSafety #BlackBoxData #AAIBIndia

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The Commission for Air Quality (CAQM) decided against implementing Stage 3 as the air quality in Delhi improved slightly. The subcommittee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) reviewed the air quality situation after the average AQI stood at the "very poor" category in the morning Know more 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gdiZMeJQ

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As India’s highways get faster, wider, and more sophisticated, one critical piece still lags behind — design discipline. Not every road today fully conforms to IRC standards. Some are “adjusted for terrain,” others “optimised for budget,” and many “done as per site conditions.” But with speeds routinely exceeding 100 kmph, these “adjustments” are no longer harmless — they’re potential safety risks. When I worked as an engineer in the United States, I could not sign off on a design unless I held a Professional Engineer (PE) licence. That licence came with not just prestige, but accountability — every drawing, curve, and cross-section I stamped was a statement of professional responsibility. Individuals and companies can be sued if later found to be non-conforming or an accident proved to be a result of design error. In the airside, the DGCA enforces this mindset rigorously. Every airside deviation — from geometry to obstacle clearance — must go through a documented design exception process, justified and approved at senior levels. It creates a culture of engineering transparency and traceability.Highway design in India needs that same rigor. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates formal design exceptions — every departure from the AASHTO is recorded, reviewed, and owned. Design expecptions are taken seriously enough to ensure mitigation measures are in place during design phase itself. It’s time our regulatory agencies — MoRTH, IRC — build this accountability into the system. Without a formal process and licensed accountability, design choices become opinions rather than obligations. We’ve reached a stage of infrastructure growth where safety and design discipline must go hand in hand. #HighwayDesign #RoadSafety #EngineeringExcellence #InfrastructureIndia #UrbanMobility #DesignAccountability #ProfessionalEngineering #morth #irc #nhai

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