LUCKNOW, Mar 31: A Delhi-bound Air India Express flight from Bagdogra, carrying 148 passengers, was forced to make an emergency landing at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow after a mid-air smoke alert, according to reports.

The report stated that the flight, IX1523, was diverted to Lucknow on Monday evening after the pilot issued a 'Mayday' call, which is an internationally recognised distress signal used in life-threatening situations.

The call was made after crew members detected smoke in the aircraft’s avionics bay, which houses critical electronic systems. There were 6 crew members on board. No injuries have been reported.

“Prioritising safety, the crew operating one of our flights to Delhi elected to divert to Lucknow and carried out a priority landing following a smoke alert. The aircraft landed safely, and all guests were provided refreshments on arrival. They were subsequently re-accommodated on alternative flights to Delhi.

Confirming the incident, An Air India Express spokesperson said that the crew spotted the smoke and decided to divert the flight to Lucknow, adding that all passengers on board were safe and were provided with alternative flights to Delhi.

IndiGo names ex-British Airways chief William Walsh as new CEO

NEW DELHI, Mar 31: Airline carrier IndiGo on Tuesday announced the appointment of William Walsh, the current IATA (International Air Transport Association) chief, as its chief executive officer (CEO).

“The Board of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) today appointed William Walsh as the Chief Executive Officer, subject to regulatory approvals. Walsh’s tenure at IATA ((International Air Transport Association) comes to a close on the 31st of July, 2026, and he is expected to join no later than on the 3rd of August, 2026,” a statement from IndiGo said.

Walsh is currently the Director General of IATA and was formerly CEO of British Airways and IAG (International Airlines Group, a holding company which owns Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level and Vueling).

“I am thrilled that Willie will be at the helm of IndiGo. He is an exceptional global aviation leader with a stellar track record of outstanding leadership across several airlines. His experience in managing large scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead IndiGo for continued growth in an ever evolving and competitive international aviation environment. His appointment will mark a new chapter for IndiGo, as it continues its journey in one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world”, Vikram Singh Mehta, IndiGo’s chairman said.

Rahul Bhatia, managing director of IndiGo said, “As we enter a new phase of transformation and growth, I am delighted to welcome Willie to IndiGo. He is an iconic and accomplished aviation leader and brings a rare combination of global perspective, operational expertise of having built strong customer-focused airlines, deep industry experience and a values driven leadership, making him exceptionally suited to lead IndiGo at this pivotal cusp of growth.”

The airline said that Walsh is widely considered as one of the most successful, respected, influential and long-lasting leaders in modern aviation history.

“He is admired for his pragmatic and resolute management, effective complex restructuring, and successful mergers and acquisitions. Walsh’s distinguished career highlights commence from his role as a pilot, COO and then CEO of Aer Lingus, (2000-2005); CEO of British Airways, (2005-2011); CEO of IAG (2011-2020); and since then, the Director General of IATA,” they said.

In his new role as IndiGo’s CEO, the airline stated, Walsh will be responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the airline with a focus on transformational initiatives to strengthen the operational performance, advance the Company’s network and commercial strategy while enhancing customer experience.

“He will work closely with the Board and the leadership team to rightfully position IndiGo as it scales up to the next phase of its growth,” IndiGo said in a statement.

Commenting on his appointment Walsh said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead IndiGo. The airline has a strong foundation, a compelling vision and an exceptional reputation. What stands out most to me are its people, their passion, professionalism and commitment.

The aviation landscape is evolving rapidly, and IndiGo is extremely well-positioned to be at the forefront of this change. I look forward to partnering with colleagues across the organisation to build a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration and sustainable value for all stakeholders.”

Singapore's Changi Airport tops among list of 100 world's best, Delhi's IGI is at 28th

LONDON, Mar 31: Singapore's Changi Airport has topped the list of world's best airports for the fourteenth time since 2000 at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026.

The airport was also named the World’s Best Airport Dining, the World’s Best Airport in the 60–70 Million Passenger Category, the World’s Best Airport Immigration Service, and the Best Airport in Asia.

Five Indian airports figure in the list of top 100 world's best airports, with Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport included in the world's top 30 .

There are five Indian airports among the world's top 100, including Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, which has been ranked 28th this year. The airport, which was at the 32nd spot earlier, rose four spots this year. It was also named the best airport in India & South Asia.

Bangalore's Kempegowda International Airport took the 41st spot, and was also recognised as the ‘Best Regional Airport in India & South Asia’ for third consecutive year at Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026.

Both Pilots Dead After Plane, Truck Collide At New York's LaGuardia Airport

NEW YORK, Mar 23: A pilot and co-pilot were killed after an Air Canada Express passenger plane collided with a fire truck on a LaGuardia Airport runway late Sunday, according to US media reports. At least 13 people, including two firefighters, were injured when the incoming flight collided with a fire engine on runway 4 of the airport, according to NBC and Sky News reports.

Several videos of the aftermath emerged on social media showing evacuation and rescue operations at the airport. Unverified footage also showed damage to the nose of the plane. The clip showed the front of the commuter plane smashed and tilting in the air as passengers deplaned from the vehicle.

The incident reportedly happened at 11:38 pm (local time) when a fire truck from the Port Authority Police Department collided with a plane when it was landing. According to an NBC report, a sergeant and an officer on the fire truck have broken limbs and are in stable condition at a hospital.

The CRJ-900 plane, which was coming from Montreal, struck the vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph) at the airport in New York City's Queens borough, FlightRadar24 said.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has, meanwhile, issued a ground stop for all planes at the airport, according to a notice from the regulator. The FAA notice showed that the reason for the halt at the airport was an emergency, and there was a high probability of an extension, without specifying any details.

LaGuardia Airport's website showed all arriving planes have either been diverted to other airports or returned to their point of origin.

Per US media reports, four crew members along with 72 passengers were aboard the jet --a Bombardier CRJ-900-- and their conditions are being evaluated. Citing sources, the New York Post said the plane was carrying a group of Orthodox Jews from the New York area.

The fire truck was reportedly cleared to cross runway 4 to respond to the United 737 Max flight that declared an emergency on the ground due to a strange odour that was making the flight attendants sick.

IndiGo Flights To Get Costlier As It Imposes Fuel Surcharge Amid Iran War

NEW DELHI, Mar 13: Passengers booking IndiGo flights will pay more from tomorrow after the airline announced it is adding a fuel charge to all domestic and international routes amid war in the Middle East. The charge takes effect at 00:01 hours on March 14, the airlines said.

IndiGo said in a press release that the move follows a surge in fuel prices linked to the ongoing geopolitical issues in the Middle East. The airline pointed to the International Air Transport Association's Jet Fuel Monitor, which records an increase of more than 85 per cent in fuel prices for the region.

Aviation Turbine Fuel forms a significant share of airlines' operating costs. The airlines stated that this sudden and steep increase will have a material impact on the costs and network of all airlines, including IndiGo. It added that offsetting the entire impact of the fuel price surge would require a very substantial adjustment to fares.

"While offsetting the entire impact of this fuel price surge requires a very substantial adjustment to fares, IndiGo has introduced a relatively smaller amount as a Fuel Charge, keeping in mind the consequential burden on customers," the company said.

The overall prices for all new bookings on IndiGo flights will include the following additional fuel charge per sector:

Within Domestic India: Rs 425
Indian Subcontinent: Rs 425
Middle East: Rs 900
South East Asia and China: Rs 1,800
Africa and West Asia: Rs 1,800
Europe: Rs 2,300

"IndiGo regrets the inconvenience resulting from this additional charge and reiterates that the measure has been driven by a sudden and substantial change in the operating environment. IndiGo will continue to monitor the situation and make relevant adjustments as and when appropriate," the airline said in a statement.

The announcement comes amid major disruptions in the oil and shipping industry around the globe due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving the US, Israel and Iran.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers resigns, co-founder Rahul Bhatia returns after flight crisis

NEW DELHI, Mar 10: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned, India's largest airline operated by Interglobe Aviation Ltd. said on Tuesday, in the aftermath of the carrier's worst-ever flight crisis. Rahul Bhatia, co-founder and managing director, has assumed management of the airline on an interim basis.

“As per our conversation, due to personal reasons, I herewith submit my resignation from the position of CEO of IndiGo with effect from today. I would request that notice period may be waived off,” Elbers wrote in his resignation letter to Bhatia.

“It has been both an honour and privilege to serve as IndiGo CEO these past years, since September 2022, and being a part of the great IndiGo family, it's beautiful growth story and the steps we have made together in this.”

In a little over three years since Elbers taking the helm in September 2022, IndiGo crossed the $10-billion revenue mark, expanded its fleet to over 440 aircraft, and placed a historic order for 500 Airbus A320-family planes.

But despite his successes, Elbers’ tenure was marred by an operational meltdown in December 2025. The flight crisis was triggered by IndiGo's struggle to implement new rules designed to prevent pilot fatigue.

Between December 3 and 5, IndiGo cancelled over 2,500 flights and delayed nearly 1,900 more, affecting over 300,000 passengers. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation imposed a record fine of ₹22.20 crore and issued showcause notices directly to Elbers. While he initially survived calls for his resignation, the crisis significantly dented the airline's reputation for punctuality.

The IndiGo CEO resignation marks a comeback of sorts for co-founder Bhatia, especially in the absence of his other co-founder Rakesh Gangwal who resigned from the board of directors in February 2022.

“Having founded and nurtured IndiGo for 22 years, I feel a deep sense of personal commitment and responsibility towards our nation, and towards the airline’s customers, employees, shareholders and all other stakeholders,” Bhatia said in a press statement.

“While placing culture, service excellence and stakeholder trust at the forefront of its operations, IndiGo will continue to sharpen its strategic focus on serving India and her people with an airline that is professionally managed, operationally reliable and globally respected.”

Air India Fares To Rise As It Imposes Fuel Surcharge Amid Iran War

NEW DELHI, Mar 10: Air India will introduce a phased increase in fuel surcharges across its domestic and international network, the airline announced today, citing a sharp rise in jet fuel prices driven by the Iran-US war in the Middle East.

The carrier gave a slab of rates that it will implement in three phases. Air India said it regrets the move but described it as unavoidable, attributing the decision to factors beyond its control.

Air India said that without the surcharge revision, some flights risked becoming commercially unviable and could face cancellation.

"Absent such fuel surcharges, it is likely that some flights would be unable to cover operating costs and would have to be cancelled," it said.

For flights to the Middle East, the fuel surcharge will be $10; for flights to Africa, it would be raised by $30 to $90, and for Southeast Asia flights it would be raised by $20 to $60.

The airline will review the surcharges periodically and adjust them as the situation evolves, Air India said.

Air India Express, Tata-run airline's low-cost arm, will not apply any fuel surcharge on its flights for now. This may offer some relief to passengers.

"Since early March 2026, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of an airline's operating costs, has seen significant price escalation due to supply interruptions. In India, this pressure is amplified by high excise duty and VAT on ATF in major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, magnifying cost the impact and placing substantial strain on airline operating economics," Air India said in a statement.

Jet fuel has long been one of the most volatile input costs for airlines. India does not produce significant quantities of crude domestically, making carriers directly exposed to global oil price swings.

The Iran-US war in the Middle East has also affected the supply of natural gas across the world. The Strait of Hormuz remains a part of the war zone for over two weeks, due to which more than 750 cargo ships are stuck at major ports in the region.

India buys 50 per cent of its natural gas needs from the international market. Of this, it imports 20 per cent from Qatar.

After Iran's missile attacks on Qatar's gas fields, the world's largest natural gas exporting company, QatarEnergy, stopped production. This has affected supply of natural gas to Asian regions.

To deal with this growing challenge, India has guidelines for regulating the supply and use of natural gas in different sectors across the country. According to the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the central government divided key sectors into four priority areas.

Over 52,000 Indians returned home from crisis-hit Middle East since March 1, says MEA

NEW DELHI, Mar 7: More than 52,000 Indians stranded in West Asia have returned on commercial flights during March 1-7 and more flights are planned in the coming days, the external affairs ministry said on Saturday against the backdrop of escalating tensions over the Iran-US conflict.

The Indian side has repeatedly emphasised the safety of more than 10 million Indian nationals in West Asia and the maintenance of energy and trade supply chains since Israel and the US launched military strikes on Iran last month.

The government is monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, especially with regard to the welfare of Indian nationals who have been stranded during transit or on short duration visits, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

Following the partial opening of airspace across West Asia in the past few days, Indian and foreign airlines are operating commercial flights, including non-scheduled flights, to enable the return of Indian passengers in transit or on short-term visits, the statement said.

“By now, more than 52,000 Indians have availed of these flights and travelled safely from the Gulf region to India between March 1-7,” the statement said.

Out of the total number, 32107 travelled on Indian carriers. “More flights are planned in the coming days,” the statement said.

In countries where commercial flights are unavailable, Indian nationals were advised to contact embassies and consulates for information and advice regarding the nearest available commercial flight options.

The ministry advised all Indian nationals in West Asia to follow guidelines from local authorities and advisories issued by Indian embassies or consulates. Indian missions in these countries have issued detailed advisories and set up 24x7 helplines to address concerns on account of the ongoing situation.

Noida International Airport secures security clearance, races towards launch

NEW DELHI, Mar 6: Noida International Airport (NIA) has crossed a critical regulatory milestone, receiving security clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). With this final security framework approved, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now set to conduct its final inspection, after which the aerodrome licence will be issued. The greenfield project is now firmly in the last stretch before commencing commercial operations, TOI reported.

The clearance, granted on Thursday, validates the airport's core security framework, including the bomb threat contingency plan (BTCP), anti-hijack contingency plan (AHCP) and the airport security programme (ASP). With these documents now approved, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to conduct its final inspection shortly, after which the crucial aerodrome licence will be issued.

Officials at Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), the government agency monitoring the project, indicated that the licence could be granted within a week of the DGCA's inspection. NIAL Chief Executive Officer RK Singh noted that the security vetting approval received on Thursday has brought the airport closer to operational readiness, the TOI report said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, speaking at an event in Greater Noida West on Thursday, stated that the country’s largest airport would be inaugurated soon. Officials added that the formal date for the inauguration will be finalised by the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to Shailendra Bhatia, Nodal Officer for the project, airlines including IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air are expected to open ticket bookings once the aerodrome licence is formally in hand. Following the issuance of the licence, domestic passenger flights and cargo operations are projected to commence within 45 days, in line with the project timeline. International operations are anticipated to begin by September.

The airport infrastructure envisaged in the first phase is ready to handle 12 million passengers annually, adding that the terminal building, air traffic control tower and runway are complete as planned. He further noted that the concessionaire must meet specific conditions before the licence is formally granted.

The security clearance comes amidst efforts by the Union aviation secretary, Samir Sinha, to smooth over any potential administrative delays related to the airport's leadership. The airport is helmed by CEO Christoph Schnellmann, a Swiss national and veteran from Zurich Airports who previously played a key role in the development of Bengaluru’s airport.