In major news since our last update; SAS returns to India after 17 years with direct flights between Mumbai and Copenhagen, IndiGo deploys second A321XLR on Delhi-Istanbul route, SWISS doubles flights between Delhi and Zurich in April and May, Air China resumes non-stop Beijing - Delhi flights, Akasa Air to introduce direct flights between Mumbai and Hanoi, European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational, Navi Mumbai Airport expands to 46 domestic destinations, Air India Express launches Pune - Bagdogra direct flights. These are more updates in our April edition.

Navi Mumbai Airport expands to 46 domestic destinations in first summer schedule:

NMIA has launched its first summer schedule, effective from March 29 to October 24, 2026, expanding connectivity to 46 destinations with 30 new domestic routes across key Indian cities. Airlines like IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express have increased their capacity with total operations scaling up to over 1000 weekly flights.

Among Indian cities, Delhi (9), Goa (7), Bengaluru (6) and Cochin (5) will have largest share of daily departures followed closely by Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Varanasi and Indore. The 30 new domestic routes connects NMIA to a mix of commercial, tourism and religious centres across India.

With the ‘missing link’ expected to be inaugurated on May 01, NMIA becomes even more accessible to travellers from Pune who can now skip the busy and congested ghat section of the Pune - Mumbai Expressway to reach NMIA in 2 / 2.5 hours.

Jewar International Airport at Noida inaugurated by PM:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the National Capital Region’s second airport, the Noida International Airport (IATA code: DXN) on March 28, 2026.

Designed as the National Capital Region’s second airport, the project involves an investment of ₹11,200 crore. In its first phase, it will handle 12 million passengers annually with a single runway, while the long-term plan envisages a capacity of 70 million passengers per year and up to six runways.

Commercial operations are expected to commence by the end of May 2026 giving a boost to aviation capacity in North India.

Update on the re-carpeting plan for 4 Indian Air Force (IAF) controlled airports:

Further to our last month’s travel update, here is an update on the temporary runway closures at Srinagar (SXR), Jodhpur (JDH) and Pune (PNQ) airports due to scheduled maintenance work:

Srinagar Airport (SXR):

Jodhpur Airport (JDH):

Pune Airport (PNQ):

Note: Like Jodhpur, the Pune airport is also expected to experience operational disruptions later in the year due to runway re-carpeting work where the airport will be closed for a longer window of time.

India orders major airports to cut some charges by 25%, in relief to airlines:

India's airport tariff regulator has ordered major airports to cut landing and parking charges by 25% for three months for domestic flights, offering relief to the country's airlines that are under financial pressure due to the US-Iran war.

The move to cut charges comes after IndiGo and ⁠Air India sought the rationalisation of some fees levied by airports. The country's two largest airlines are facing a double whammy from the US-Iran war, as Indian airlines are already barred from flying over Pakistan.

Indigo introduces 4th frequency between Pune and Ahmedabad and 2nd frequency between Pune and Patna:

Indigo Airlines has announced a 4th frequency flight between Pune and Ahmedabad, effective May 02, 2026 with the following schedule:

And a 2nd frequency flight between Pune and Patna, also effective May 02, 2026 with the below schedule:

Air India Express launches a new route between Pune and Bagdogra:

Air India Express has announced a new route between Pune (PNQ) and Bagdogra (IXB) with effect from May 01, 2026 with the below schedule:

Pune airport expands with 15 new flight slots approved from May:

Pune Airport is set to significantly enhance its operations with the addition of 15 new flight slots starting May 1, 2026. Approved by the Indian Air Force, this move will increase the airport's total slot capacity from 220 to 235, marking a crucial step toward improving connectivity and handling growing passenger demand.

New Routes to Key Destinations:

• Among the key additions is a new multi-leg route linking Pune, Solapur and Tirupati. Star Air will operate flight S5 331/332 on this route starting May 01, offering six weekly services, with slight schedule variations on Saturdays. The Solapur - Tirupati timings, however, are yet to be finalised.
• Connectivity to coastal Karnataka will also improve, with FLY 91 launching a daily Pune - Mangaluru service from May 01.
• Further enhancing the network, SpiceJet will introduce a Goa - Chennai service via Pune
• And Akasa Air plans to begin daily flights between Pune and Varanasi

SAS returns to India after 17 years with direct flights to Copenhagen:

SAS is expanding its intercontinental network with a new year-round route between Copenhagen and Mumbai thereby strengthening ties between India and Scandinavia, with smooth transfers to Europe and North America.

Starting June 02, 2026, SAS will operate five weekly flights with an Airbus A330, offering nonstop service between Copenhagen and Mumbai with the following schedule:

Flight times are designed to support smooth transfers to and from major destinations in Scandinavia, Europe, and North America, including New York, Boston, and Toronto, offering very good connections for travellers heading to or from India.

Air China has resumed its non-stop services between Beijing and Delhi from April 21, 2026, marking a further step in restoring air connectivity between India and China. The airline will operate the Beijing - Delhi route three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with the below schedule using Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft:

The resumption is expected to enhance travel options for passengers and support growing demand across business, tourism and bilateral travel segments between the two countries.

Akasa Air is expanding its international network with the anouncement of new four times weekly direct flights between Mumbai and Hanoi starting from Sep 04, 2026 with the below schedule:

IndiGo deploys second A321XLR on Delhi-Istanbul route from April 19, 2026

IndiGo has announced the deployment of its second Airbus A321XLR on the Delhi - Istanbul route, with effect from April 19, 2026. The route enables the airline to offer seamless onward connections to over 50 international destinations via airline’s codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines.

The airline will offer a dual class configuration with 183 Economy seats and 12 IndiGoStretch seats, their tailor-made business product. Customers across both cabins can enjoy complimentary hot meals and beverages inspired by global and local cuisines, with vegetarian options as default and non vegetarian meals available for pre booking. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase in Economy or via pre booking and are complimentary for IndiGoStretch customers.

Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with a next generation digital inflight entertainment system that enables customers to stream a wide selection of content, including Indian and international films, television shows, games, anime, and more, directly on their personal devices.

Cathay Pacific Airlines: Daily Chennai to Toronto Flights from March 29, 2026:

Cathay Pacific Airlines has announced the launch of daily direct flights between Chennai, India and Toronto, Canada via Hong Kong with effect from March 29, 2026 with the following schedule:

SWISS doubles flights between Delhi and Zurich in April and May:

SWISS Airlines is increasing its flight offering between India and Switzerland for the months of April and May. From 01 April to 31 May 2026, in addition to its regular service from Delhi to Zurich, SWISS Airlines will operate a second daily connection using an Airbus A330:

Additional flight (daily) for April and May:

Regular flight (daily):

Lufthansa adds 1,600 flights as demand soars across Europe and India:

The Lufthansa Group is adding around 1,600 additional flights for summer 2026, aligning capacity with strong leisure and business travel demand.

Lufthansa will add:

• 2 additional weekly flights: Frankfurt (FRA) to Chennai (MAA)
• 2 additional weekly flights: Frankfurt (FRA) to Delhi (DEL)
• 1 additional flight: Frankfurt (FRA) to Hyderabad (HYD)
• 1 additional weekly flight: Munich (MUC) to Bangalore (BLR)

The schedule for the same will be announced in due course.

Group carriers, including SWISS International Air Lines (LX), Austrian Airlines (OS), and Brussels Airlines (SN), are contributing additional capacity from Zurich Airport (ZRH), Vienna International Airport (VIE), and Brussels Airport (BRU).

Beyond long-haul routes, Lufthansa will operate around 540 additional European flights between April and October 2026. These flights focus on high-demand leisure markets, particularly across the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, Italy, and select destinations in Northern Europe.

Operationalization of visa free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports:

Following an announcement made by Prime Minister Modi and President Macron during the latter's visit to India in February 2026, Indian nationals are no longer required to obtain an airport transit visa when passing through the international zone of airports in France with effect from April 10, 2026.

The announcement was confirmed by the Embassy of France in India in a press release issued on April 23, 2026. The exemption applies strictly to passengers who remain in the international transit area during their layover at a French airport while travelling onwards to a third country.

France follows Germany in offering visa-free transit for Indians:

France is not the only European country to ease transit rules for Indian passport holders in recent months. In January 2026, Germany also announced that Indian nationals would no longer require a Schengen Airport Transit Visa, commonly referred to as a Type A visa, when transiting through its international airports.

This exemption applies to passengers connecting through major German hubs such as Frankfurt and Munich while travelling to a non-Schengen destination. The decision was announced during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit to India on January 12 and 13, 2026.

Together, these developments are expected to simplify travel, reduce costs and ease planning for Indian passengers using key European airports as transit hubs, making long-haul journeys smoother and more accessible.

EU Entry/Exit System: Information about changing requirements for travellers to countries in the Schengen area

From April 10, 2026, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational for non-EU travellers visiting the Schengen Area for short stays.

What you need to know:

• Biometric data (fingerprints & facial image) will be recorded at entry/exit
• No more manual passport stamping
• Applies to all third-country nationals travelling for short stays
• There is no cost for EES registration and no action needs to be taken before you arrive in the EU

At the airport:

• Travellers should register biometrics in advance at self-service kiosks
• Helps reduce waiting time and ensures smoother entry

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Embassy of China in India: Consular office to remain closed from May 1-5, 2026:

According to a notice dated April 22, 2026, on its official website, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in India in New Delhi announced that the Consular Office will remain closed from May 1 (Friday) to May 5 (Tuesday), 2026, on the occasion of the International Labour Day holiday.

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