Overview
- Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said both carriers received no‑objection certificates this week, with Shankh Air already cleared earlier.
- An NOC allows setup work to begin, but commercial flying requires a DGCA Air Operator Certificate plus aircraft, trained crews, safety systems and proving flights.
- The step follows IndiGo’s early‑December rostering breakdown tied to new FDTL rest rules, which triggered roughly 4,000–4,500 cancellations and a peak of about 1,600 in one day.
- IndiGo controls around 65% of domestic traffic and, with the Air India Group, carries close to 90% of passengers, intensifying concerns about system resilience.
- Industry experts warn many NOC recipients never launch due to high fuel costs, taxes and thin margins, making AOC clearance and sustainable operations the crucial hurdle.