New Delhi, March 26 The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working to make it easier for airlines to do business, in order to help them grow and thrive, as well as taking steps to protect passenger rights, its chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said on Thursday.
Airlines are facing significant challenges, including longer routes and higher operational costs due to airspace restrictions, he said, expressing hope that there would be "better days".
The ongoing conflict in West Asia is posing more challenges for airlines, which have reduced services to the region.
"We are not only looking at passenger rights... we are also trying to make things easier for airlines, and the rules and regulations are designed to promote ease of doing business because we want our airlines to grow and thrive," Kidwai said.
He said that many airlines have gone bankrupt in India and emphasised the need to support carriers.
India is one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets in the world, and the DGCA, along with the civil aviation ministry, has been taking various initiatives.
Recently, it was decided that 60 per cent of seats on a domestic flight will be offered without any additional charges, while the fare cap, which was imposed in the wake of IndiGo's operational disruptions in December 2025, has been withdrawn.
"We are facing a very challenging situation because, especially for our airlines, if you look at the Pakistani airspace being closed...," he said.
In the context of the West Asia conflict, Kidwai said that airlines have to take longer routes, which means carrying more fuel, and the cost of fuel is going up.
Also, carrying more fuel means carrying fewer passengers and cargo, which hits revenues, he added.
"Operating costs are going up... so, these are big challenges for the sector, and we hope to see better days," the DGCA Director General said.
Kidwai was speaking at the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Aviation and Tourism Summit in the national capital.