BUSINESS
Decoding the ongoing traffic chaos at Delhi airport
A planned runway closure, poor coordination among airlines, and unseasonal wind patterns have created a perfect storm of delays and diversions at India’s busiest airport. Relief may arrive—but not before mid-May.
BUSINESS
Additional ATCs to be deployed at Mumbai, Rajkot to ensure smooth operation of Intl flights
Officials aware of the ongoing discussions said that around 420 air traffic controllers are stationed at Mumbai ATC at the moment and around 150 air traffic controllers work out of Hirasar, including tower controllers, terminal controllers and en route controllers.
BUSINESS
Airlines sign cheaper ATF deals with OMCs for 2025 as crude prices fall
Senior executives from the domestic carriers told Moneycontrol they negotiated for lower jet fuel prices as part of their yearly contracts with oil marketing companies following a nearly 30 percent fall in the price of crude, from around $95 a barrel in November 2024 to $60 a barrel in March 2025.
BUSINESS
As India shuts airspace, 6-8 weekly PIA flights to be impacted
As India closes its airspace to Pakistani airlines in a tit-for-tat move, around six to eight flights from Pakistan to the East are expected to be affected, particularly flights to Kuala Lumpur and Seoul.
BUSINESS
Around 600 flights of Indian airlines diverted due to Pak airspace closure since April 24
An estimated 800 international flights of Indian airlines flew over Pakistani airspace in March 2025 and rerouting is becoming complex and costly for Indian carriers, adding anywhere from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours to flight times.
BUSINESS
Centre mulls tightening capex loan scheme as many states prioritise freebies over infra spend
While states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, among others, have largely relied on loans from the Centre to spend on infrastructure, the finance ministry is particularly concerned about the impact of capex assistance on the debt levels of smaller states.
BUSINESS
International tourist inquiries to J&K see a 20% drop, following Pahalgam attack
Comparing the current situation to the Pulwama terror attack of 2019 where 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed, executives said that both domestic and international travel agents are expected to avoid Kashmir as a holiday destination in 2025 until there are clear signs of truce between India and Pakistan.
BUSINESS
Indian airlines face higher costs, longer flight times after Pakistan closes airspace
Indian airlines will have to avoid Pakistani airspace during international flights, leading to at least an extra hour of flying time, following the neighbouring country’s immediate closure of its airspace to Indian-owned and India-operated airlines.
INDIA
Five Indian diplomats stationed in Pakistan flown back to Delhi on April 23
Saad Warraich, Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in New Delhi, was also flown back to Pakistan on April 23.
BUSINESS
Pahalgam terror attack comes at a time of mega infra push in J&K, from hospitals to highways
The Union Territory has seen investments grow from Rs 841 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 76,000 crore worth of infrastructure projects underway. J&K is building roads and highways at breakneck speed.
BUSINESS
Pahalgam attack hits tourism as 15,000 travellers seek to reschedule, cancel flight to Srinagar
Senior executives from domestic airlines told Moneycontrol that around 60,000 to 70,000 passengers fly to Srinagar every week from across India and in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, tourism to Kashmir will take a hit at least for the next fortnight.
BUSINESS
Delhi airport runway upgrade delay may worsen flight disruptions if not completed by November
DIAL, the airport operator, also requested the government to work with all stakeholders to provide a timeline for the upgrade and called for better coordination between airlines, Airports Authority of India and air traffic control to minimise disruptions during that time.
BUSINESS
DIAL blames airlines for IGI airport chaos, says were warned 4 months ago
Despite government's intervention, passengers are likely to face delays till the first week of May, as it will take time to reopen the main runway for operations
BUSINESS
Indian airlines, lessors get Rs 1,500 crore tax notices for FY22, FY23 over Ireland leases
In the notices, Indian authorities claimed that the prime reason these lessors operated from Ireland was to avoid tax on the operating lease rental they earned from airlines in India.
BUSINESS
Indian airlines may get 20 more Boeing planes after China orders suspension of deliveries
Amid worsening trade war with the US, China has asked its airlines not to take deliveries of Boeing planes. Boeing was to deliver 28 Max jets and one 787 to Chinese airlines this year
BUSINESS
Trump’s tariffs threaten over $350 million of exports, force Indian MSMEs to de-risk from US
The levies have hit small and medium Indian shipments of textiles, carpets, automobile parts, marine products, furniture, and steel and aluminium particularly hard, nearly a dozen Indian exporters, companies and port operators told Moneycontrol.
BUSINESS
Air passenger complaints spike 57% in FY25; SpiceJet, Air India lead the pack
Domestic airlines paid Rs 56.9 crore in compensation in FY25, around 11 percent more than the previous year
BUSINESS
Delhi govt considering proposal to cut value-added tax on aviation turbine fuel
As part of the proposals being considered by the Delhi government, the state might see VAT on ATF being cut to 10 percent from the current 25 percent.
BUSINESS
IGI Airport to meet parameters to become international transit hub in 2 years: DIAL CEO Jaipuriar
DIAL plans to enhance connectivity with the Asia Pacific region, specifically targeting Australia and New Zealand. Jaipuriar added that DIAL has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Auckland Airport to bolster bilateral ties. He added that the airport is waiting for the availability of the right kind of aircraft to improve connectivity to the region.
BUSINESS
DGCA considering longer bans, fine after Air India places 'peegate' accused on 30 day no-fly list
While Air India has placed accused Tushar Masand on its no-fly list for a month, the DGCA is expected to ask all other Indian airlines to ban him from flying by the end of the week. Air India has also set up an independent three-member committee to conduct an investigation and submit a detailed report with the DGCA in the next few days.
BUSINESS
It is cheaper to fly to Europe than to Srinagar this summer!
Economy flights to Kerala, a major domestic destination, from metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai have risen to around Rs 8,000 - Rs 40,000 for April, May and June 2025. For the extended Easter weekend (travel on April 17), a Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram round ticket costs between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000.
BUSINESS
Third batch of Indians rescued from scam centres to be airlifted from Myanmar by April 15
The external affairs ministry is working with Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand and the governments there to secure the release of around 2,000 Indian over the next few months
BUSINESS
Centre’s FY25 revised capex may miss the target by around Rs 35,000 crore
The largest miss on FY25 capex is expected to be due to a spending slowdown in roads and highway projects, followed by housing and atomic energy.
BUSINESS
IFSC GIFT City sees aircraft and engine leasing rise 31% on year in 2024, better times may be ahead
Officials expect atleast 100 new aircraft or engines to be leased from GIFT City in 2025. Lessors feel that for GIFT City to become a global hub, an ecosystem conducive to the leasing business, including a repair and maintenance unit, needs to be set up.
