DGCA Chief: Airlines Face Major Challenges, Hopes for 'Better Days'

• DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai acknowledges significant challenges for airlines, including longer routes and higher operational costs.
• Airspace restrictions, particularly Pakistan's closure and the West Asia conflict, force airlines to take longer routes, increasing fuel consumption and reducing cargo/passenger capacity.
• Kidwai emphasizes DGCA's efforts to promote 'ease of doing business' for airlines to help them grow and flourish, alongside protecting passenger rights.
• He highlights the need to support carriers, noting that many airlines in India have previously gone bust.
• The DGCA recently decided to offer 60% of domestic flight seats without additional charges and withdrew fare caps.