Airlines in India: List of mainline, regional and cargo airline companies operating in India in 2024

Curious about the airlines in India in 2024? This article will discuss the airlines within India, with mainline and regional carriers!

By Forbes India

Published: Feb 28, 2024 04:45:28 PM IST

Updated: Aug 27, 2024 03:59:18 PM IST

Airlines in India: List of mainline, regional and cargo airline companies operating in India in 2024

India's aviation sector has been soaring to new heights this decade, with remarkable growth and innovation shaping the industry's landscape. Already, India has firmly established itself as the world's third-largest market for domestic airlines, emphasising the pivotal role played by domestic airlines in India in the aviation landscape. In this article, we explore the airlines in India in its mainline, regional, and cargo sectors.

Airlines in India: Domestic and International

Speaking of the airlines within India, here is our comprehensive airline list in India. We will be mentioning the types of their service, the number of destinations they serve, their fleet size, and their IATA (International Air Transport Association) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) codes.

Also Read: Top 10 debit cards with airport lounge access in India

Mainline airlines in India: Number of destinations

Airline	Type	Destinations No.
IndiGo	Low Cost	119
Air India	Full Service	84
Vistara	Full Service	50
SpiceJet	Low Cost	62
Go First	Low Cost	NA
AIX Connect	-	19
Air India Express	Low Cost	45
Akasa Air	Low Cost	21
Jet Airways	-	-

Also Read: Countries that give visa-free access to Indians

Mainline airlines in India: Fleet size and IATA and ICAO codes

Airline	Fleet Size	IATA	ICAO
IndiGo	360	6E	IGO
Air India	128	AI	AIC
Vistara	70	UK	VTI
SpiceJet	63	SG	SEJ
Go First	0	G8	GOW
AIX Connect	24	I5	SEJ
Air India Express	80	IX	AXB
Akasa Air	22	QP	AKJ
Jet Airways	-	9W (Previous)	JAI (Previous)

Regional/Commuter airlines in India: Fleet size

Airline	Hubs	Fleet Size
Alhind Airlines	Kochi	3
Alliance Air	Delhi	21
Star Air	Bengaluru	5
FlyBig	Guwahati	3
IndiaOne Air	Bhubaneswar	2

Also Read: Top 10 credit cards for airport lounge access in India

Regional/Commuter airlines in India: IATA and ICAO codes

Airline	IATA	ICAO
Alhind Airlines	NA	NA
Alliance Air	9I	LLR
Star Air	S5	SDG
FlyBig	S9	FLG
IndiaOne Air	I7	IOA

Cargo airlines in India: Fleet size

Airline	Hubs	Fleet Size
Blue Dart Aviation	Chennai	8
Pradhaan Air Express	Delhi	1
Quikjet Airlines	Bengaluru	2
SpiceXpress	Delhi	3
IndiGo CarGo	Delhi	2

Cargo airlines in India: IATA and ICAO codes

Airline	IATA	ICAO
Blue Dart Aviation	BZ	BDA
Pradhaan Air Express	6P	PRX
Quikjet Airlines	QO	FQA
SpiceXpress	SG	SEJ
IndiGo CarGo	6E	IGO

Also Read: Top 10 busiest airports in India

Top 10 Airlines in India by Fleet Size in 2024: A Deeper Insight

Now, it’s time for a deep dive into the airlines in India. If we go by fleet size, here are the top 10 airlines within India:

Note: Call signs are necessary to identify an aircraft during airband radio transmissions.

IndiGo

Founding year: 2006
Owned by: InterGlobe Aviation Ltd
Call Sign: IFLY

IndiGo is headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, and was founded in 2006 by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal from the United States. It took its maiden flight in July 2006 and officially launched in 2016. By 2012, IndiGo became India's largest carrier by passenger market share. In 2023, IndiGo flies 56.2 percent of India’s passengers.

Also Read: Can anything stop IndiGo?

IndiGo is looking to expand its global network with two fresh international routes. From September 22, 2023, the airline will initiate four weekly non-stop flights connecting Delhi and Tashkent. Simultaneously, from September 23, it will commence flights between Delhi and Almaty, strengthening its international offerings.

Air India

Founding year: 1932
Owned by: Air India Limited (Tata Group)
Call Sign: AIRINDIA

Air India is based in New Delhi. In 1932, JRD Tata set the foundation for Air India as Tata Airlines, which later evolved into Air India after WWII. In 2023, Air India flies 25.1 percent of Indian passengers.

The airline joined Star Alliance in 2014, further cementing its global reach. It was repurchased in January 2022 by the Tata conglomerate, already running Vistara and AirAsia India. In November 2022, Air India also announced a merger with Vistara and AirAsia India.

Also Read: How Air India's million little steps are taking it on a journey to find lost glory

Recently, Air India declared plans to unveil a vibrant livery, a distinctive custom font, and a new logo. Chakras inspire the proposed tail fin design. The comprehensive revamp plans to acquire 470 new planes from Airbus and Boeing.

Vistara

Founding year: 2013
Owned by: TATA SIA Airlines Limited
Call Sign: VISTARA

Vistara set its course from Gurgaon and marked its inaugural flight between Delhi and Mumbai on January 9, 2015. As of October 31, 2019, Vistara operated 34 destinations, including four international ones, using Airbus A320, A320 neo, Boeing 787-9, and Boeing 737-800NG aircraft.

One of the relatively new airlines in India, Vistara has already accomplished a remarkable feat, clinching the title of 'Best Airline in India and South Asia' for the third consecutive year. Furthermore, the airline has been honoured with the 16th position globally at Skytrax's prestigious 2023 World Airline Awards.

SpiceJet

Founding year: 2004
Owned by: Sun Group
Call Sign: SPICEJET

Based in Gurgaon, SpiceJet is one of the most well-known airlines in India. Launched in 1994 as ModiLuft, it was rebranded by entrepreneur Ajay Singh in 2004. With 630 daily flights to 64 destinations, it operates Boeing 737 and Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft.

Also Read: Once the turnaround man, Ajay Singh may now need an external hand—and capital—to pull SpiceJet out of turbulence

Aircraft lessors Aircastle of Ireland and Wilmington Trust have recently filed insolvency suits against SpiceJet. In turn, SpiceJet has questioned the maintainability of the insolvency plea from Wilmington Trust, mainly since the company was only a trustee and not an operational creditor of SpiceJet. The lawsuit is yet to see its resolution.

Go First

Founding year: 2005
Owned by: Sevakunj Investments and Trading Co. Pvt Ltd, Wadia Group
Call Sign: GOAIR

GoFirst Airlines is renowned for its passenger, charter, and air cargo services. With hubs at Bengaluru, Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, and Kolkata, GoFirst covers many destinations. Notably, GoFirst has earned accolades like Skytrax's "Best Airline Award" in 2010.

On May 3, 2023, Go First ceased operations and is currently undergoing a procedure for insolvency resolution. In recent developments, IATA has blocked its designator code G8 for the next twelve months due to its inoperative state.

AIX Connect

Founding year: 2013
Owned by: Air India Limited (Tata Group)
Call Sign: RED KNIGHT

AirAsia India, now AIX Connect, is under Tata Group's ownership and set for changes in 2023. With a merger plan with Air India Express Ltd., CEO Aloke Singh aims to build a robust organisation by leveraging both airlines' strengths. The integration will simplify passenger travel, and AIX Connect's share capital will increase, aiding expanded flight operations. Tata Group's involvement and strategic moves are expected to reshape India's aviation landscape.

Air India Express

Founding year: 2005
Owned by: Tata Group, Tata Sons
Call Sign: EXPRESS INDIA

Based in Kochi, Kerala, this airline operates under Air India Express Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the national carrier, Air India. The airline connects 33 Middle East and Southeast Asia cities, with approximately 649 weekly flights serving around 4.3 million passengers annually.

Akasa Air

Founding year: 2021
Owned by: SNV Aviation Private Limited
Call Sign: AKASA AIR

Akasa Air, one of the growing domestic airlines in India, starting with a couple of Boeing 737 MAX planes and limited routes, has achieved impressive growth in just a couple of years, connecting major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, as well as tier 2 and 3 destinations. With over 900 weekly flights across 21 destinations and 35 unique routes, Akasa has transported more than 7.75 million passengers. The airline's flexibility in handling challenges, including supply chain issues, and its swift fleet expansion are remarkable, considering its position as one of the new airlines in India.

Also Read: Akasa Air is on an unprecedented flight plan. Can it really redefine flying in India?

Alliance Air

Founding year: 1996
Owned by: The Government of India
Call Sign: ALLIED

Alliance Air, a regional airline and subsidiary of Air India previously, commenced its journey in 1996. Operating under the government's UDAN Scheme, it is one of the prominent domestic airlines in India. It has hubs in major Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata. The fleet comprises 18 ATR 72-600 and two ATR 42-320 aircraft.

Star Air

Founding year: 2019
Owned by: Sanjay Ghodawat Group
Call Sign: HISTAR

Standing out among the domestic airlines in India and yet another of the new airlines in India, Star Air elegantly embarked on its journey from Bangalore's Kempegowda International Airport. Guided by the UDAN scheme, it strategically linked Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. The airline operates two Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft with 50 seats each. Star Air won "Best Domestic Airline" at Wings India in 2022.