As India’s aviation sector expands at an unprecedented pace, concerns around safety, reliability, and operational resilience are moving to the forefront ahead of Budget 2026. Recent experiences of prolonged delays, technical fault announcements, aircraft groundings, and reports of cyberattacks have heightened passenger anxiety and raised critical questions about whether aviation infrastructure and oversight are keeping pace with rapid growth.
- Passenger Concerns on the Rise
Frequent delays, operational disruptions, and safety-related announcements have made flyers increasingly sensitive to reliability and risk issues. - Aviation Growth Outpacing Systems
India’s push for larger fleets and higher traffic volumes has intensified pressure on air traffic management, maintenance, and regulatory oversight mechanisms. - ICRA Flags Multi-Directional Stress
According to ICRA, the aviation sector faced pressure from multiple fronts simultaneously, amplifying operational and financial strain. - Challenging Year for Airlines
Kinjal Shah, Senior Vice President and Co-Group Head for Corporate Ratings at ICRA, said rapid industry growth coincided with an unusually difficult year marked by groundings, disruptions, and external shocks. - Budget 2026 in Spotlight
Industry stakeholders are expecting Budget 2026 to prioritise safety upgrades, cyber resilience, capacity augmentation, and regulatory strengthening. - Focus on Safer Runways Ahead
Experts believe future aviation policy must emphasise not just expansion, but also passenger trust, operational stability, and long-term safety assurance.