India's three major airlines—Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet—are likely to benefit from the ECLGS 5.0 scheme, which allows each airline to access up to ₹1,500 crore in financial support. This initiative is part of a broader government plan to facilitate a total of ₹2.55 trillion in additional credit to mitigate the financial strain on the aviation sector, exacerbated by rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and geopolitical disruptions. M Nagaraju, secretary of the Department of Financial Services, emphasized that the allocation aims to shield airlines from financial stress, as they have faced challenges like airspace closures and reduced international operations. IndiGo's net profit dropped 77.6% year-on-year to ₹549 crore, while Air India is expected to report losses exceeding ₹22,000 crore in FY26. The ECLGS 5.0 scheme offers a maximum loan limit of ₹1,000 crore per borrower, with an additional ₹500 crore available against equivalent equity infusion. The loans will have a tenure of up to seven years, including a two-year repayment moratorium. The scheme also provides a 100% government guarantee for existing standard MSME borrowers and 90% for non-MSME borrowers, including airlines. The financial stress in the sector has led to a reduction of nearly 25% in weekly international flights, as airlines navigate increased operational costs.