Indian Aviation's Defining 2025: Crash, Chaos, Resilience, and Global Rise

• 2025 was a challenging year for Indian aviation, marked by a fatal Air India crash (AI171) in Ahmedabad killing 260, raising safety and regulatory concerns.
• Geopolitical events like Operation Sindoor and Pakistan's airspace closure caused widespread flight disruptions and increased operational costs for airlines.
• IndiGo faced unprecedented operational breakdowns in December, impacting over nine lakh passengers due to misjudged pilot requirements.
• Despite challenges, India hosted the IATA AGM, Safran opened a major MRO facility in Hyderabad, and Navi Mumbai Airport began operations, signaling global confidence and infrastructure growth.
• Smaller airlines like SpiceJet and Akasa Air showed resilience, expanding their fleets amidst market concentration, while the year revealed critical fault lines and the industry's long-term ambition.

Why It Matters: 2025 exposed Indian aviation's vulnerabilities but also highlighted its resilience, global standing, and ambitious future.