Alitoday

New Delhi - AlHind Air, promoted by entrepreneur T. Mohammed Haris, has received the long-awaited No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the airline’s entry into India’s domestic aviation market. The Ministry granted NOCs to AlHind Air and FlyExpress on December 24, 2025, marking the first formal step toward their launch as scheduled Indian carriers. The approvals come at a time when India’s aviation sector has faced major disruptions. IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, recently cancelled over 4,000 flights due to an acute crew shortage, exposing the risks of a highly concentrated market. Currently, India’s domestic aviation space is dominated by just two airlines IndiGo and Air India which together control nearly 90 percent of the market. IndiGo alone accounts for more than 60 percent, while Air India holds close to 30 percent. Officials say the entry of new carriers like AlHind Air and FlyExpress is aimed at reducing dependence on a limited number of airlines and bringing greater competition, stability and choice for passengers. About AlHind Air AlHind Air is owned by the Calicut-based Al Hind Group of Companies, a major player in India’s hospitality and travel industry. Founded nearly three decades ago, the group has a strong presence across India and overseas, with operations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bangladesh and Kuwait. Originally launched as Alhind Tours and Travels Pvt Ltd in 1992, the group today operates across more than 130 locations in India and abroad. According to information available on its website, the group has a turnover exceeding ₹20,000 crore and had served over one million customers as of 2023. The group and the airline are owned and promoted by Mohammed Haris Thattarathil, widely known as T. Mohammed Haris. Who is T. Mohammed Haris? Mohammed Haris Thattarathil is the Founder, Chairman and Promoter of the Al Hind Group. Coming from a humble background in Kerala, he began his journey with a small travel office and gradually built one of India’s largest travel service networks. Born in Calicut, Haris holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and Economics, along with a degree in Pharmacology. He is the Founder General Secretary of the Indian Haj Umrah Association and was nominated in 2021 by the Airports Authority of India as a member representing the travel and tourism community on the Calicut Airport Advisory Committee. The group handles air ticketing worth around ₹600 crore every month and has extensive experience in tours, foreign exchange and related travel services. Expansion Plan Haris plans to launch AlHind Air as a regional commuter airline. The airline is expected to begin operations in 2026 with an initial fleet of three ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, scaling up to seven aircraft within a year. AlHind Air will focus initially on domestic routes in southern India, with Kochi as its main hub. Planned connections include cities such as Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai and other airports across Kerala. Also Read | Elon Musk Says H1B Visa Will Become “Optional” as Work Itself May Change The airline also has plans to expand internationally at a later stage, particularly to Gulf destinations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, leveraging the group’s strong regional presence and the large NRI population in these countries. Industry observers say the entry of AlHind Air could help strengthen regional connectivity and ease pressure on India’s overcrowded aviation market.