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Ministry of Civil Aviation has informally conveyed to airlines the desirability of having Indian CEOs at domestic carriers, citing the need for stronger public connect
Aviation
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has informally conveyed to airlines the desirability of having Indian CEOs at domestic carriers, citing the need for stronger public connect as India’s aviation ecosystem expands at a rapid pace, government sources told CNBC-TV18.
The communication, made at a policy level, does not amount to a directive. Officials clarified that the government cannot mandate leadership appointments at private airlines but has raised the matter as part of wider discussions on the sector’s future direction and identity.
Sources said the ministry is of the view that Indian CEOs may be better positioned to engage with domestic passengers and an increasingly diverse group of stakeholders as air travel penetration deepens across the country.
Officials also indicated that leadership at Indian carriers should mirror the country’s evolving aviation identity, especially at a time when passenger traffic, route networks and airport infrastructure are growing at an unprecedented rate.
The suggestion extends to major airlines such as Air India and IndiGo, and is not confined to smaller or regional operators, sources added.
Authorities emphasised that the focus is on alignment with India’s aviation narrative rather than nationality as a regulatory condition. Airlines, they reiterated, retain full autonomy over top-level appointments, with the government’s role limited to flagging issues it considers relevant as the sector evolves.
The matter is expected to remain part of ongoing engagement between policymakers and airline leadership as India cements its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
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February 09, 2026, 12:49 IST
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