Zooom Air

Zooom Air was the trading name of Zexus Air Services Pvt. Ltd., an Indian regional airline headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. The carrier was created in April 2013 under the name Zexus Air and pursued a low-cost regional aviation model focused on connecting Indian cities that were underserved by larger airlines. Its principal operating base was Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The airline received a No Objection Certificate from India's Ministry of Civil Aviation in July 2014, one of several approvals granted to proposed new airlines at the time. It took delivery of its first aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ200, in September 2016 and obtained its air operator's certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 3 February 2017. Commercial operations began on 15 February 2017 with a Delhi–Kolkata service that stopped at Durgapur. The carrier also participated in the government's UDAN regional-connectivity framework, initially attracting significant interest as a new operator serving regional routes. Zooom Air's operations were repeatedly disrupted by weak passenger demand, regulatory issues, financial pressure and the broader effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2018, the DGCA suspended its operating licence over safety concerns. The certificate was restored in December 2018, but the airline did not immediately return to stable operations. It resumed flying on 31 October 2019, only for its services to be grounded indefinitely in March 2020 during the pandemic. A proposed restart in January 2021 did not materialize. The prolonged grounding contributed to unpaid obligations and insolvency proceedings. An expatriate pilot associated with the airline filed an application before the National Company Law Tribunal as an operational creditor. The tribunal considered the matter on 25 March 2022 and appointed an interim resolution professional, while financial and operational creditors were invited to submit claims. The insolvency process concluded after the statutory period of 180 days, on 21 September 2022. The DGCA issued the airline another air operator's certificate on 14 September 2023. Zooom Air subsequently announced plans to restart in early January 2024 and eventually resumed scheduled service on 31 January 2024 with direct flights between Delhi and Ayodhya. It indicated that routes to Amritsar, Chandigarh and Lucknow could follow. The airline also discussed returning its five-aircraft Bombardier CRJ200ER fleet to service, evaluating future narrow-body and freighter aircraft, and expanding toward a fleet of 20 aircraft over two years. These expansion plans were not realized. Zooom Air stopped accepting bookings on the Delhi–Ayodhya route and ceased operations again on 29 June 2024. It is therefore treated as a defunct airline brand.

Zooom Air originated as Zexus Air, a proposed Indian regional airline established in April 2013 by Zexus Air Services Pvt. Ltd. Its creation coincided with a period in which India sought to expand air connectivity beyond the largest metropolitan markets. In July 2014, the Ministry of Civil Aviation granted the startup a No Objection Certificate, allowing it to continue the regulatory and operational preparations required for airline certification. The airline selected a regional-jet model and received its first Bombardier CRJ200 in September 2016. On 3 February 2017, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued its air operator's certificate. Commercial flying began on 15 February 2017, when Zooom Air opened a Delhi–Kolkata service with a stop at Durgapur. Its business proposition was based on relatively small aircraft, lower-cost domestic operations and the development of regional routes. The carrier also benefited initially from interest surrounding the UDAN regional-connectivity scheme. The initial launch did not develop into a durable network. Falling passenger numbers and limited patronage weakened the airline's operating position. In July 2018, the DGCA suspended its operating licence because of safety concerns. Although the regulator restored the air operator's certificate in December 2018, the carrier did not immediately achieve consistent service. Operations eventually resumed on 31 October 2019, but the recovery was short-lived. All flights were grounded indefinitely in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption across the aviation sector. Zooom Air was expected to attempt another restart in January 2021, but that plan did not succeed. The extended grounding also contributed to unpaid dues and financial distress. An expatriate pilot associated with the company brought an application before the National Company Law Tribunal as an operational creditor. The NCLT considered the matter on 25 March 2022, appointed an interim resolution professional and invited operational and financial creditors to submit claims. The insolvency process was completed after 180 days, on 21 September 2022. A further attempt to revive the airline followed the DGCA's issuance of another air operator's certificate on 14 September 2023. Zooom Air announced in December that it intended to resume flights in the first week of January 2024. The planned network centered on Delhi, Ayodhya and Lucknow, although the actual restart occurred on 31 January with direct Delhi–Ayodhya flights. The company said it expected to add Amritsar, Chandigarh and Lucknow and indicated that its existing group of five Bombardier CRJ200ER aircraft could be returned to service. Its chief executive, Atul Gambhir, also discussed possible orders for narrow-body and freighter aircraft from Airbus or Boeing and a long-term objective of reaching 20 aircraft and eventually beginning international operations. The renewed operation was brief. Zooom Air stopped accepting bookings on its Delhi–Ayodhya route and ceased operations on 29 June 2024. The airline's repeated suspensions, regulatory interruptions, insolvency process and inability to sustain its final restart left it as a defunct Indian regional airline brand.

• 2024

  Final restart and cessation

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  Zooom Air resumes direct Delhi–Ayodhya flights on 31 January and ends operations again on 29 June.

• 2023

  Air operator's certificate renewed

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  The DGCA issues Zooom Air another AOC on 14 September.

• 2022

  Insolvency proceedings completed

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  The NCLT-related insolvency process concludes on 21 September after the stated 180-day period.

• 2020

  Fleet grounded during the pandemic

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  All operations are suspended in March amid the COVID-19 aviation shutdowns.

• 2019

  Operations resume

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  Zooom Air restarts flights on 31 October after its earlier operational interruption.

• 2018

  Operating licence suspended

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  The DGCA suspends the airline's licence over safety concerns; the certificate is restored later in the year.

• 2017

  Commercial operations begin

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  The airline receives its AOC in February and begins service between Delhi and Kolkata via Durgapur.

• 2016

  First aircraft delivered

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  Zooom Air takes delivery of its first Bombardier CRJ200.

• 2014

  No Objection Certificate received

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  The Ministry of Civil Aviation issues the startup a No Objection Certificate.

• 2013

  Zexus Air is established

  [1]Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org

  Zexus Air Services establishes the airline project that later trades under the Zooom Air name.

A low-cost Indian regional airline intended to improve connectivity between Delhi and smaller or underserved domestic markets, including routes supported by the government's UDAN regional-connectivity scheme.

• Airline services · 2017

  Domestic regional passenger flights

  Zooom Air's principal offering was scheduled domestic passenger transportation within India. The carrier targeted regional connectivity rather than a large international network and operated routes linking Delhi with cities such as Kolkata, Durgapur and Ayodhya. Its service model was positioned as low-cost and regional, with network development partly associated with the UDAN connectivity program.

• Aircraft-based service platform · 2016

  Bombardier CRJ200 regional fleet

  The airline built its operating model around Bombardier CRJ200 and CRJ200ER regional jets. The fleet was intended to support lower-volume domestic routes that did not require the capacity of larger narrow-body aircraft. After the 2024 restart, management stated that five existing aircraft could be brought back into operational service, although the airline ceased flying before the planned expansion was achieved.

• 2017UDAN regional connectivity participation

  India

  Zooom Air launched into an Indian market shaped by the government's UDAN regional-connectivity initiative. The scheme helped generate early interest in regional air services and supported the carrier's positioning as a smaller-city connectivity operator.

  Outcome. The initial response was described as considerable, but passenger demand and patronage later declined and the airline could not sustain operations.

  Source

• 2024

  Consider fleet expansionStrategy

  Background

  Management sought to rebuild the carrier after its prolonged grounding and return to a larger domestic network.

  Action taken

  Chief executive Atul Gambhir said the company was considering narrow-body and freighter aircraft from Airbus or Boeing and aimed for a fleet of 20 aircraft within two years, with international service as a longer-term objective.

  Aftermath

  The expansion proposals were not implemented before Zooom Air ceased operations in June 2024.

  Source

• 2023

  Prepare a second operational restartStrategy

  Background

  Following the issuance of a new AOC, Zooom Air sought to re-enter the Indian regional market.

  Action taken

  The airline announced a planned January 2024 restart centered on Delhi, Ayodhya and Lucknow and discussed returning its five CRJ200ER aircraft to service.

  Aftermath

  The restart took place on 31 January 2024 with Delhi–Ayodhya flights, but the airline stopped accepting bookings and ceased operations again on 29 June 2024.

  Source

• 2020

  Ground the fleet during the COVID-19 disruptionStrategy

  Background

  The pandemic sharply restricted air travel and created widespread operational and demand disruption.

  Action taken

  Zooom Air suspended all operations in March 2020.

  Aftermath

  A proposed 2021 restart did not succeed, and the prolonged grounding contributed to unpaid dues and subsequent insolvency proceedings.

  Source

• 2018

  Suspend and later restore operationsOther

  Background

  The DGCA identified safety concerns and suspended Zooom Air's operating licence in July.

  Action taken

  The airline stopped operating, and the regulator restored its air operator's certificate in December after the suspension period.

  Aftermath

  Zooom Air eventually resumed service on 31 October 2019, but its operating continuity remained fragile.

  Source

• 2017

  Launch regional service from DelhiProduct launch

  Background

  After receiving its air operator's certificate, Zooom Air needed an initial route that matched its regional-jet fleet and low-cost positioning.

  Action taken

  The airline began flying from Delhi to Kolkata with a stop at Durgapur on 15 February 2017.

  Aftermath

  The launch attracted early interest but did not develop into a stable long-term operation.

  Source

1. 1Zooom Airen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Zooom Air official websitezoomair.in