Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, owner of Shankh Air, is expanding into aviation through Shankh Aviation after building Shankh Agencies. Photos: X.
Shankh Air, a Uttar Pradesh–based airline, recently secured its NOC and is expected to commence flight operations in 2026. The Ministry of Civil Aviation on December 24 approved two new airlines, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. Both carriers received their No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the ministry on Wednesday.
Confirming the development, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu shared an update on the social media platform X.
“Over the last one week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skies, Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. While Shankh Air has already got the NOC from the Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs this week,” Naidu said.
The approvals come at a time when the civil aviation ministry is looking to increase the number of airline operators in the country. India is currently among the world’s fastest-growing domestic civil aviation markets.
At present, IndiGo and the Air India Group, which includes Air India and Air India Express, together command over 90 per cent of the domestic market share, as per reports.
Al Hind Air is being promoted by the Kerala-based Alhind Group. According to the airline’s official website, it will debut as a regional commuter airline, with an initial emphasis on efficient domestic air travel.
The airline plans to begin operations with a fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft. While the initial focus will be on domestic routes, Al Hind Air intends to expand to international destinations at a later stage.
“Based at the Kochi hub, Alhindair is actively collaborating with Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to ensure a seamless setup of its operational base,” the airline stated on its website.
Shankh Air, which has already received its NOC from the civil aviation ministry, is planning to begin services in the first quarter of 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Shankh Aviation said that its aircraft are currently undergoing technical reviews and are being prepared for delivery to India. The airline will be operated by Uttar Pradesh–based Shankh Aviation.
Shankh Aviation’s Chairman and Managing Director, Sharvan Kumar Vishwakarma, met Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu earlier this week and briefed him on the airline’s operational plans.
The airline’s founder, Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, is also the owner of Shankh Agencies Private Limited, a company established in 2022 that operates in building materials, ceramics, concrete, and wholesale goods. The airline’s leadership team includes directors Anurag Chhabra and Kaushik Sengupta. Shankh Air plans to offer affordable air travel services and will compete with established carriers such as SpiceJet and IndiGo.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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