New Airline Shankh Air Secures Airbus A320 Fleet for Q1 2026 India Launch

December 27, 2025 at 05:39 PM•2 min read

Shankh Air, a new Uttar Pradesh-based carrier, plans a Q1 2026 launch with a five-aircraft Airbus A320/A321 fleet to challenge India's domestic market duopoly.

Key Points

1Shankh Air confirmed a Q1 2026 launch timeline after receiving a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Civil Aviation Ministry.
2Initial fleet will consist of five Airbus A320 Family aircraft (three A320s, two A321s) sourced from Bulgaria.
3The airline will focus on the middle-class segment with lower fares, initially serving Uttar Pradesh routes like Lucknow-Delhi and Lucknow-Mumbai.
4The launch will add competition to the Indian domestic market, which is currently dominated by IndiGo and the Air India Group, controlling over 90% of traffic.

Shankh Air is preparing for its commercial debut in the Indian domestic aviation market. The new carrier aims to begin flight operations by the first quarter of 2026. This launch follows the airline securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Managing Director Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma confirmed the launch timeline. He stated the airline is confident in its operational and financial capabilities. Shankh Air is fully funded by its parent company, Shankh Trading.

Fleet and Operational Strategy

Shankh Air will begin services with an initial fleet of five Airbus A320 A321 Family aircraft. The fleet includes three Airbus A320 and two A321 jets. These aircraft are being acquired from Bulgaria via a lease-plus-finance structure.

The airline's primary base will be in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Initial operations will focus on Uttar Pradesh air routes. Key routes include Lucknow to Delhi and Lucknow to Mumbai. The carrier plans to eventually expand to international routes by 2029.

Targeting the Middle-Class Segment

Shankh Air’s business model targets the vast middle class air travel segment. The airline plans to offer lower-end ticket fares. This strategy aims to draw first-time flyers to the skies. Mr. Vishwakarma stressed that the airline will not hike its ticket prices. This focus on affordability is key to its low-fare airline strategy.

Market Context and Competition

Shankh Air’s entry comes at a critical time for the Indian market. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets. It is projected to surpass China in air passenger traffic growth rate by 2026.

However, the domestic sector is highly concentrated. The market is dominated by a virtual duopoly. IndiGo and the Air India Group control over 90% of the domestic market share.

New entrants like Shankh Air are seen as vital for boosting India aviation market competition. The government is actively encouraging more airlines to improve systemic stability. The new Indian airline competition is expected to offer passengers more choices. This could also enhance connectivity on underserved routes.

Shankh Air, along with other new carriers, is currently moving through the regulatory process. The next step is securing the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The airline plans to scale its fleet to 20–25 aircraft within two to three years. This ambitious expansion signals a long-term commitment. For more commercial aviation news and analysis on new market entrants, visit flying.flights.