US Grants Air India Expanded Permit to Operate Passenger, Cargo and Charter Flights

Washington, March 2026 : The United States has granted an amended foreign air carrier permit to Air India, authorizing the airline to operate passenger, cargo, and charter flight services between India and the United States. The decision was finalized this week by the US Department of Transportation after the conclusion of a review process during which no objections were raised by stakeholders.

According to officials, the Department had earlier issued a tentative decision and invited public comments or objections within a 21-day period. Interested parties were given an opportunity to challenge or raise concerns about the proposed approval of the amended permit. However, the department confirmed that no submissions opposing the order were received during the allotted time.

“No objections were received within the time period provided,” the final order stated, clearing the way for the department to formalize its earlier findings and issue the amended permit along with the conditions governing its operation.

Under the new authorization, Air India will be able to operate scheduled international transportation of passengers, cargo, and mail involving destinations in the United States. The permit also allows the airline to conduct flights from locations beyond India, via Indian airports and intermediate stops, to destinations within the United States and onward to other international locations.

In addition to passenger services, the permit grants expanded rights for cargo operations. The airline is authorized to operate scheduled cargo flights between the United States and other international destinations, enhancing its logistics capabilities and strengthening trade connectivity between the two countries.

The authorization further allows the carrier to conduct charter operations transporting passengers, cargo, and mail between India and the United States. Charter flights between the United States and third countries are also permitted, provided they are part of a continuous service that begins or ends in India.

The amended permit officially came into effect on March 2, 2026, following the completion of the mandatory presidential review period required under US aviation law. Foreign air carrier permits issued by the US Department of Transportation must be reviewed by the President of the United States or a designated official. If the order is not disapproved within the specified review period, it automatically becomes effective.

While the permit grants broad operational authority, the airline must comply with all applicable US aviation, safety, and security regulations. These include rules enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration, which oversee safety standards, operational procedures, and aviation security requirements.

The order also requires Air India to maintain valid authorization from the Government of India for the international services it operates and to comply with globally accepted aviation safety standards.

Records show that the airline initially applied for the amended permit and related exemption authority in October 2025. The application sought to formalize and incorporate operational rights that the airline already held under the existing US-India air transport agreement.

After reviewing the application and supporting documents, officials concluded that the airline had demonstrated adequate financial stability and operational capability to conduct the proposed services safely and efficiently. The department also determined that granting the amended permit would serve the public interest by strengthening international air connectivity.

Air travel between India and the United States has grown steadily over the past decade, supported by expanding trade, tourism, and strong people-to-people ties. A large Indian diaspora living in the United States has also contributed to rising demand for direct and connecting flights between the two countries.

With the amended permit now in effect, Air India is expected to further enhance its transcontinental operations, supporting passenger mobility, cargo transportation, and deeper economic links between the two major global economies.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)