IndiGo Blues: Why India is the Waterloo for Airlines Since 1991 liberalisation, India has buried several airlines—from East-West to GoFirst—proving its skies the world's deadliest graveyard. AdvertisementIndia’s skies grow crowded, yet the graveyard expandsSandipan SharmaNew Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 5, 2025 14:08 ISTIndia laughs loudest at the aviation industry’s oldest joke: the fastest way to make a small fortune is to start with a large one. Since liberalisation cracked open the skies to private carriers in 1991, India has buried at least two dozen airlines — high-flying dreams that all ended in debt, courtrooms, and grounded fleets. East-West, Damania, Modiluft, Sahara, NEPC, Kingfisher, Jet Airways, GoFirst: the names form a grim honor roll of ambition undone, marking India as the world’s toughest aviation market despite its passenger boom. advertisementThe 1990s PioneersBefore 1991, India’s skies were effectively closed.
