BUSINESS
What the Middle East crisis could mean for Indian consumers’ wallets
As the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel has entered its 14th day following the initial outbreak of large-scale strikes on February 28, analysts are expecting the retail inflation to rise 5.1 percent in FY27 if crude prices remain above $100 per barrel.
BUSINESS
Up to Rs 5 lakh off as car dealers slash prices to clear unsold 2024–25 stock
From entry-level small cars to high-demand SUVs, manufacturers in partnership with dealers are offering steep discounts on previous model year vehicles
BUSINESS
Pieter Elbers’ sudden exit from IndiGo raises eyebrows; notice period waived, no successor named
Elbers' predecessor Ronojoy Dutta had been required to serve a six-month notice period when he stepped down, and eventually remained with the airline for about four and a half months before exiting
BUSINESS
Gas supply squeeze threatens auto component production, thousands of units stare at shutdown
Though smaller in scale compared with Tier-1 component manufacturers, these enterprises play a vital role in the auto supply chain. Any disruption in their production can trigger a cascading impact across the industry
BUSINESS
GST cuts, rural revival, poll buzz fuel car demand beyond festive surge
While SIAM has informally projected 5–6% growth for FY27, internal estimates suggest double-digit growth is possible given the current trajectory, an executive at a top car firm has said
BUSINESS
Iran war drives charter flight prices to Rs 50–70 lakh as airspace closures, insurance costs disrupt travel
Travel agencies have been flooding charter companies with requests, as thousands of travellers attempt to move out of the conflict-hit Gulf region. By March 8, Indian airlines had cancelled more than 2,000 flights since the start of the conflict
BUSINESS
Kasol’s ‘Mini Israel’ tag fades as Israeli tourists stay away this season
The US-Israel-Iran conflict has not only affected quieter backpacking hubs like Dharamkot and Kasol but could also impact popular hill stations such as Manali and Shimla, which serve as key entry points for foreign tourists
BUSINESS
Indian aviation industry under pressure: ATF prices, rupee fall and geopolitical tensions weigh on airlines' profitability
While fuel price had previously added a bit of relief, a recent spike, currency depreciation and international flight disruptions are adding fresh challenges to an already cost-sensitive sector
BUSINESS
Airlines begin gradual operations amid Middle East airspace disruptions
Emirates, the largest foreign carrier connecting India and the Gulf, has begun accepting bookings to Dubai from Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai
WORLD
Middle East airspace closure forces 850+ flight cancellations of Indian carriers
According to official figures shared by India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, 410 flights operated by domestic carriers were cancelled on February 28, while 444 additional cancellations are expected on March 1 as the situation continues to evolve.
INDIA
Israel-Iran conflict: Fares of non-stop flights through the roof as Dubai shuts for connecting flights
The suspension of operations at Dubai — a critical global transit hub — has disrupted one of the busiest air corridors for Indian travellers, forcing passengers to compete for direct flights to western destinations
INDIA
Airlines cancel flights to the Middle East as conflict spirals
Low cost carrier SpiceJet advised its passengers to check flight status as some of its flights were affected by the airspace closure in Dubai.
BUSINESS
TVS, Bajaj and Hero race ahead in electric two-wheeler market; Honda, Suzuki still to rev up
TVS Motor Company, Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp together command nearly 60% of the domestic E2W market, which has grown to approximately 1.23 lakh units a month
BUSINESS
Carmakers line up Rs 1 lakh crore expansion plan as GST tailwinds drive 65% capacity surge
From a current production capacity of around 5.5 million passenger vehicles annually, Indian carmakers are preparing to scale up to nearly 9 million units per annum — a 65% increase, or an additional 3.5 million units
BUSINESS
Uncertain Runway: Traffic slide at Dabolim intensifies Goa’s two-airport debate
The Dabolim airport in Goa is one of the few profit-making airports for AAI. During FY25, the airport's profits nearly doubled to Rs 120 crore as against Rs 64.88 crore recorded in FY24
BUSINESS
Exclusive: Looking to back entrepreneurs in the field of supply chains: Shilpa Kumar, MD, British Int'l Investment
BII has invested about $4 billion in India, with a current portfolio of $2.5 billion spread across more than 600 companies
BUSINESS
Renault eyes India partnerships to unlock Chennai capacity amid turnaround push
Outside Europe, Renault operates in five major hubs — Brazil, India, Turkey, Korea and Morocco. Among these, India and Brazil are projected to account for nearly 50% of the French automaker's global growth in the coming years
BUSINESS
GST reset powers entry-level bike revival; Hero MotoCorp hits 8-yr high market share
A key driver has been the surge in first-time buyers. Hero said the share of first-time customers has risen from around 75-80%, attributing the shift to GST rationalisation that effectively rolled back two-wheeler prices to levels seen three years ago
BUSINESS
Mahindra eyes EU expansion with left-hand-drive vehicles by 2028, banking on India-EU trade deal
The zero-duty window under the deal could significantly improve price competitiveness for Indian-made SUVs and utility vehicles in Europe, particularly as the EU transitions toward diversified supply chains, said M&M
BUSINESS
Ashok Leyland Q3 net profit rises 4.5% to Rs 796 crore; revenue jumps 22%
Medium and heavy commercial vehicle (MHCV) volumes stood at 32,929 units in Q3 FY26, up 23 percent from 26,692 units in the same quarter last year. The growth outpaced overall industry expansion, resulting in a gain in market share.
BUSINESS
Akasa Air co-founder Praveen Iyer quits; Anand Srinivasan to take over as CCO
Iyer has been a key member of Akasa’s founding leadership team and played a pivotal role in building the airline’s commercial strategy, partnerships and revenue framework since its inception.
BUSINESS
China’s luxury car slowdown exposes a structural shift -- and a strategic opening for JLR
In July, Beijing raised the luxury car tax threshold, levying an additional 10% duty on vehicles priced between RMB 900,000 and 1.3 million — a direct hit to high-end imports
BUSINESS
Trade deal may open doors for US cars but right-hand-drive rules limit options
As part of the trade deal framework, India will initially lower tariffs on diesel cars above 2,500cc and petrol cars above 3,000cc to 50 percent before reducing them further to 30 percent over a 10-year period
BUSINESS
India’s auto parts get a US tariff breather: Preferential quota in new trade framework
North America continued to dominate India’s export basket, accounting for 30 percent of the country’s total auto component exports of $12.2 billion in H1FY26
