Tag Archives: Air India Express

Merger involved harmonisation of operational manuals across two low-cost carriers, transfer of aircraft, besides operational, safety and maintenance approvals Air India Group is in the process of merging four airlines into two as part of its 5-year Vihaan.AI transformation program Air India Group has completed the operational integration and legal merger of Air India Express and AIX Connect (erstwhile AirAsia India) into a larger Low-Cost Carrier. The formation of the merged entity, which will operate under the ‘Air India Express’ name and a unified airline code IX, marks a significant milestone in the transformation journey of Air India Group, which is merging four airlines into two. The group is simultaneously in the process of merging Vistara into Air India to set up a world-class global airline. The merger process for Air India Express was completed in less than a year since the airline’s refreshed brand was unveiled. It involved the harmonisation of operational manuals, as an enabler for the merger, and the transfer of Air operator certificates (AOCs). Given the complexity of such a merger, it required close working with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), who supported and monitored the process throughout. The merger also received support of Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and other key stakeholders. On Tuesday, Vikram Dev Dutt, Director General, DGCA, handed over the updated AOC to Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, in the presence of Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Air India and Chairman, Air India Express, at the DGCA headquarter in New Delhi. Vikram Dev Dutt, Director General, DGCA, said: “The successful integration and merger of AIX Connect with Air India Express is …

Oman Sets the Stage as a Premier Luxury Destination for Indian Travellers The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman continues its India Roadshow in Chennai, reinforcing Oman’s position as a top-tier destination for Indian travellers seeking luxury, culture, and adventure. The roadshow commenced with a strategic press conference in the capital, followed by a grand promotional tour across key Indian cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. This vibrant event showcased Oman’s unparalleled offerings, featuring 18 prominent players from the private sector, including leading luxury hotels and airlines, all eager to introduce their finest offerings to the discerning Indian market. The atmosphere was charged with energy as Indian travel trade professionals engaged in meaningful dialogues with Oman Tourism officials. The message was clear: Oman is not just a destination; it is a luxurious haven of natural beauty, rich heritage, and extraordinary experiences that promise to leave a lasting impression. Luxurious Stays in Oman: Where Elegance Meets Tradition: At the heart of Oman’s appeal is its array of world-class luxury accommodations. From the opulent palaces of Muscat to serene beachfront resorts and boutique desert camps, Oman offers Indian travellers an exquisite range of lodging options. The newly opened St. Regis Muscat adds a touch of modern elegance to this portfolio, offering unparalleled service and amenities that blend luxury with local charm. Some properties are known for their regal splendour, while others showcase a minimalist design influenced by traditional Omani architecture—highlighted as must-visit sanctuaries for those seeking the pinnacle of comfort and elegance. Oman: A Vital Market for Indian Travellers: His Excellency (H.E.) Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of Tourism, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, underscored the …

Riya Group announces its strategic alliance with Air India Express. The collaboration integrates Riya’s comprehensive visa services on the airline’s website, enabling customers to promptly access and apply for visas to any destination worldwide. This progressive step is conceived to ease the visa application process and enhance a traveller’s holistic booking journey on the Air India Express website.

Air India Express, a low-cost subsidiary of Air India, will commence flights to Imphal and Kochi from Kolkata on 4 April. The airline hopes to add two international services to Kathmandu and Dhaka from the city the following month. Meanwhile, the introduction of direct flights would boost travel in India.

Air India Express (AIX) will add 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft to its fleet by December 2024. This will help the airline grow its existing West Asia network and launch new domestic and international routes, including those to Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.

Airindiaexpress.Com, the unified customer interface of Air India Express and AirAsia India – the two subsidiary airlines of Air India, has witnessed a surge of visitors within days of launch with the platform, contributing over 25% of international flight revenue on the first day itself, making it the dominant single source of reservations.

Air India Express has started the first direct flight from Vijayawada to Sharjah. The starting price for the Vijayawada-Sharjah segment is INR 13,669, whereas the starting price for the Sharjah-Vijayawada sector is AED 399. Air India Express also flies from Vijayawada to Muscat and Kuwait in addition to Sharjah using a B737-800 NG aircraft

Air India Express will launch its first direct flight service from Surat to Sharjah on February 16. The flight will depart from Sharjah at 7:35 PM and arrive in Surat at 11:45 PM on Mondays and Saturdays. From Surat, the flight will depart at 12:30 AM with arrival into Sharjah at 02:15 AM on Tuesdays and Sundays. This service will be upgraded to four flights a week in the summer schedule. The airline will also expand services from Gulf to Kannur in Kerala in its summer schedule 2019, which shall commence on March 31, 2019. “Summer 2019 will witness additional capacity being deployed to strengthen the network between Gulf and Kerala. There will be two more flights on Mondays and Fridays,” the statement said. The airline will operate five flights on the Kozhikode-Riyadh sector in the Summer schedule’19 instead of the present four services per week. The additional flight will operate on Fridays at the existing timings. Operating with a fleet of 25 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, the airline will have 653 weekly departures in the new schedule, as against 621 per week currently. The increase in operations will be achieved through capacity addition and by increasing aircraft utilisation, which is poised to go up from about 13.3 hours currently to 13.4 hours per day per aircraft in the summer schedule, the airline said. Source: PTI

Sharing plans for 2018, K. Shyam Sundar, CEO, Air India Express, said that the focus for the LCC will be Kannur, located about 90 kms north of Calicut, which is slated to get a brand new international airport this year. Sundar says, “The focus market for us for 2018-19 will be Kannur. We expect the new airport to be functional by June 2018. We have requested the Kerala Government to allow us to be the first carrier to operate international flights from the new airport. In fact, the two aircraft we are going to induct is probably going to be based or largely operated to and from Kannur. We intend to connect Kannur to about four to five destinations in the Gulf.” Kannur is an extremely important market for AIE. The new airport is a PPP project and will be larger than the one in Calicut in terms of runway length. It will be a table-top airport. Currently, passengers from Kannur have to travel to Calicut to take flights. Sundar also revealed that AIE will make its four-month old non-stop Madurai-Singapore flight to a daily in the summer schedule. It will also add some new routes in the summer which will be a direct link between Kochi, Kuwait and Bahrain. Air India Express currently flies to 15 international destinations: Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait, Muscat, Salalah, Singapore, KualaLumpur, Riyadh & Dhaka from 15 Indian cities – Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthpuram, Mangalore, Chennai, Tiruchirapally, Mumbai, Pune, Amritsar, Lucknow, Jaipur, Varanasi, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chandigarh. On the domestic front, it operates flights between Chennai-Thiruvananthpuram-Chennai, Kozhikode-Thiruvananthpuram-Kozhikode, Kochi-Thiruvananthpuram-Kochi and Kochi-Kozhikode.

Air India’s international budget carrier, Air India Express (AIE) expands its wings to Vijayawada International Airport, with the introduction of non-stop connectivity to Mumbai. The services on Mumbai–Vijayawada sector commenced on January 19, 2018. The Mumbai service will be available thrice a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The flight will depart from Mumbai at 8am and arrive in Vijayawada at 9.45 am. In the return direction, the flight departs from Vijayawada at 10.30 am and will arrive at Mumbai at 12:10 pm. Air India already connects Vijayawada to Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru. With the new service the city of Vijayawada is now being connected to major metros in the country. Air India Express, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India Limited, Head- Quartered at Kochi, Kerala. It has a fleet of 23 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, six of which are brand new having joined the fleet recently. These new aircrafts are equipped to carry more and come with lighter seats and higher performance capabilities. Though the airline follows the market principles of a low-cost carrier, Air India Express offers complimentary tea, coffee and meals on board as its USP, said AIE in a press release on Wednesday.