Overview
- Government plans take effect March 12 with Air India and Air India Express resuming Riyadh services and IndiGo launching Mumbai–Riyadh–Mumbai flights.
- DGCA is coordinating extra slots and has cleared Muscat International Airport as an enroute alternate, with 45 inbound flights carrying 7,407 passengers on March 9.
- SpiceJet has received facilitation for alternate-airport approvals, and Akasa Air was advised to align its planned Mumbai–Riyadh launch with current operating conditions.
- Air India announced a phased fuel surcharge on domestic and international routes, including Air India Express, in response to higher jet-fuel costs.
- On March 12, Citi cut IndiGo’s target price to ₹5,100 citing geopolitical and fuel headwinds, sending shares down as much as 3.6% after a recent rebound; CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned and Rahul Bhatia is serving as interim head.