Air India Express Explained

Airline:	Air India Express
Fleet Size:	90
Destinations:	47^[1]
Iata:	IX
Icao:	AXB
Callsign:	EXPRESS INDIA
Parent:	Air India Limited
Headquarters:	Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Frequent Flyer:	Tata NeuPass
Revenue:	(FY2024)^[2]
Net Income:	(FY2024)
Num Employees:	7,000 (as of September 2024)

Air India Express is an Indian low-cost airline and a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian flag carrier airline Air India.^[3] Currently, it is headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana.^{[4] [5]}

It operates more than 2000 flights per week to 45 destinations across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.^[6] It has operating bases in Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kannur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli.

History

Foundation

Air India Express came into existence on 29 April 2005, with the launch of three flights that took off simultaneously from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. The airline was launched as a low-cost carrier with the objective of providing convenient connectivity to short-haul international routes in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for the Indian expatriate community. Air India Express was Air India's response to the growing popularity of low-cost carriers worldwide and within the region. As a low-cost carrier, the airline operates point-to-point flights with multiple hubs all over India.^[7]

In December 2012, Air India ratified the proposal to move the headquarters to Kochi in January 2013 and to establish a new maintenance base at Thiruvananthapuram.^{[8] [9]} Despite rising losses for its parent entity Air India, the airline continued to thrive in the following years with constant increase in revenue while managing to stay profitable.^[10]

Privatisation

On 8 October 2021, Air India, along with its low-cost carrier Air India Express and fifty percent of AISATS, a ground handling company, were sold for ₹18,000 crores (US$2.5 billion) to Talace Private Limited, a Tata Sons' special-purpose entity. The airlines were later handed over to the Tata Group.^[11]

During early 2023, reports emerged stating that the Tata Group was seeking to consolidate its 4 airlines into 2 airlines, one full service carrier and one low-cost carrier. The group acquired its remaining stake in AirAsia India, which was rebranded as AIX Connect, and talks began to merge Air India Express and AIX Connect. The group later confirmed the merger and applied for a merger request with the necessary authorities. The merger was later approved by the Competition Commission of India. AIX Connect started to transfer its aircraft and crew to Air India Express in preparation for the merger.^{[12] [13]}

Rebranding and merger

The airline began focusing more on non-trunk routes and began to pull out of routes requiring high business capacity, which would be taken over by Air India. The airline and Air India also began to stay away from each other's routes, with Air India Express connecting smaller cities and feeding on Air India's long-haul network.^{[14] [15]}

The Tata Group launched the rebranded Air India Express logo and livery on 18 October 2023, promising a fresh, vibrant and visually engaging airline targeting India's budget-friendly aviation market. A new rebranded website also went live with new branding. The first flight after the rebranding, IX 5101, took off from Mumbai to Delhi on 19 October 2023.^[16] The airline later began attempts to diversify its revenue streams. It began focusing more on ancillary services by retrofitting all its aircraft with hot ovens to offer hot meals, and started selling handbag-only fares called "Xpress Lite Fares". The airline aims to increase its ancillary revenue to over 20% of its total revenue within the next few years.^{[17] [18] [19]}

The merger of AIX Connect and Air Indian Express was declared complete on 1 October 2024.^[20] By the time, the fleet size is to reach 88 aircraft and eventually 100 by 2024-end. As of September 2024, the airline has 7,000 employees.^[21]

Corporate affairs and identity

It began operations at the Vatika One-on-One complex, which also houses the head office of its parent company, as of 2024.^[22]

Business trends

The key trends for Air India Express are (as at the financial year ending 31 March):

Financial year (FY)	Revenue (₹cr)	Net profit (₹cr)	Reference
2015	2,622	−61	^[23]
2016	2,917	361
2017	3,335	296	^[24]
2018	3,648	262	^[25]
2019	4,172	169	^[26]
2020	5,219	412
2021	2,039	98.2	^[27]
2022	3,522	−72.3	^[28]
2023	5,669	116	^[29]

Destinations

See main article: List of Air India Express destinations. Initially, Air India Express focused on providing international flights from Tier II cities in India, to the Persian Gulf region and Southeast Asia. After the privatization and merger, the network of Air India Express was structured to complement Air India's routes, filling gaps where the parent airline does not operate. The carrier focuses on routes which have a higher component of leisure and price-sensitive customers.^[30]

The airline flies to 45 destinations as of July 2024, with primary hubs located in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi.^{[31] [32] [33]} The airline announced Agartala in Tripura as the airline's 46th destination in July 2024.^[34]

The airline plans 55 destinations by March 2025.^[35]

Codeshare agreements

Air India Express has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Air India^[36]

Fleet

, Air India Express operates the following aircraft:

Air India Express fleet

Aircraft	In service	Orders	Passengers	Notes
Airbus A320-200	24	-	180	18 to be transferred from Air India^[37] ^[38]
Airbus A320neo	5	-	186
Boeing 737-800	26	-	189
	35	155	176	Order with 50 options^[39] ^[40]
			178
	-		TBA
Total	90	155

Fleet information

During the 2023 Paris Air Show, Air India placed an order for 470 aircraft which included an order for 190 737 MAX aircraft. The airline later transferred its 737 MAX order to Air India Express with deliveries commencing from October 2023. The airline revealed its plan to have 170 aircraft within five years.^[41]

As of 10 September 2024, the Air India Express' Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet consists of white tail aircraft, that is, the aircraft were originally manufactured for a particular airline and later taken by another airline (Air India Express). Of these aircraft, 29 offers business class seats which are planned to be eventually phased out as such configurations are not part of the airline's model.^[42]

As of 9 November 2024, the airlines has 90 aircraft which is to expand to 110 aircraft by March 2025.

Accidents and incidents

• On 22 May 2010, Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737–800 (registered VT-AXV) flying on the Dubai–Mangalore route, overshot runway 24 on landing at Mangalore Airport, killing 152 passengers and six crew members of the 166 people on board. The aircraft crashed into a wooded valley at the end of the runway and burst into flames. There were only eight survivors.^{[43] [44] [45] [46] [47]}
• On 9 July 2012, an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 skidded on landing, during heavy rain at Calicut International Airport. The aircraft's landing gear impacted with runway beacons, breaking them. There were no casualties on board.
• On 5 September 2017, Air India Express Flight 452, flying from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Cochin International Airport with 108 occupants, suffered a runway excursion after landing at its destination. All 108 occupants onboard survive and the airframe was repaired and returned to service.^[48]
• On 12 October 2018, Air India Express Flight 611, a UAE bound Boeing 737-800 (registered VT-AYD), suffered a tail strike on takeoff before colliding with the localiser antenna and boundary wall of Tiruchirappalli International Airport. This resulted in severe structural damage to the undercarriage, landing gear, flight control surfaces and engine cowling. The crew continued to fly towards Dubai contrary to Boeing's tail strike checklist, reassured by normal instrumentation. When the plane was nearing the Middle East, the pilot was ordered to fly to Mumbai, India. It landed uneventfully and was repaired at a substantial cost.^[49]
• On 7 August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344, a Boeing 737–800 (registered VT-AXH), suffered a runway excursion on landing,^[50] fell into a valley and broke into three pieces after overrunning the table-top runway at Calicut International Airport. 21 people on board were killed, including both pilots, and at least 167 were injured.^{[51] [52]}
• On 11 October 2024, Air India Express Flight 613, a Boeing 737-800 flying from Tiruchirappalli to Sharjah, suffered a hydraulic failure in its landing gear assembly. After engaging in an Holding pattern over Trichy for over two hours, the flight with 114 passengers landed safely.^{[53] [54]}

See also

• AIX Connect
• Air India Cargo
• Air Kerala
• Alliance Air (India)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Air India Express on ch-aviation.com . ch-aviation.com . 29 August 2024.
2. Web site: Tata Sons FY24 Annual report . Air India. 6. 6 September 2024.
3. News: Air India to achieve fiscal targets . . 1 July 2016.
4. Web site: Kaur . Lavpreet . Merged Air India Express finds new HQ in Gurugram . 16 November 2023 . Deccan Herald . en.
5. Web site: Krishnan . Janaki . 11 December 2023 . Air India leases 6.3 lakh square feet space in Gurgaon . 8 April 2024 . BusinessLine . en.
6. Web site: Air India Express . 27 December 2023 . Air India Express . en.
7. News: India's common man flies. https://web.archive.org/web/20050524205332/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GE19Df03.html . unfit . 24 May 2005 . The Asia Times Online. 20 September 2016.
8. News: Ramavarman. T.. Shifting of Air India Express headquarters to Kochi gets nod. https://web.archive.org/web/20130615085106/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-14/kochi/35819011_1_aie-air-india-express-ansbert-d-souza. live. 15 June 2013. The Times of India. 14 December 2012. 5 February 2013.
9. News: Air India Express route scheduling from city soon. The Hindu. 1 July 2016. 7 January 2013.
10. Web site: Air India Express reports highest ever net profit at Rs 412 crore . 29 October 2020.
11. Web site: Tata Group Onboards Air India Tata group . 1 April 2024 . www.tata.com . en.
12. Web site: 28 March 2023 . Air India Group completes integration of Air India Express and AirAsia India . 18 October 2023 . cnbctv18.com . en.
13. Web site: Sharma . Anu . 25 July 2023 . AirAsia seeks early merger with AI Express . 18 October 2023 . mint . en.
14. Web site: www.ETTravelWorld.com . Air India Express unveils new brand identity & livery alongside network expansion plans - ET TravelWorld . 31 October 2023 . ETTravelWorld.com . en.
15. Web site: Mishra . Anu . Sharma. Mihir . 16 August 2023 . AI, AI Express integration: Code share, route recast . 31 October 2023 . mint . en.
16. News: Naik . Yogesh . 18 October 2023 . Air India Express unveils new brand identity and aircraft livery . Hindustan Times.
17. Web site: 22 February 2024 . New offer from Air India Express: how do 'hand baggage-only' fares work? . 1 April 2024 . The Indian Express . en.
18. Web site: Service . Express News . 23 June 2023 . Air India Express cooks up unique in-flight menu with Gourmair . 1 April 2024 . The New Indian Express . en.
19. Web site: Gandhi . Forum . 28 January 2024 . Air India Express' ancillary revenue goes up to 15%; airline aims to grow it further . 1 April 2024 . BusinessLine . en.
20. News: Air India Express-AIX Connect merger complete; to serve as benchmark for upcoming Air India-Vistara merger: DGCA . 1 October 2024 . 1 October 2024 . The Indian Express.
21. News: 9 September 2024 . Tata LCCs' merger to complete on October 1; mega AI Express to have 100 aircraft by year end . 10 September 2024 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
22. Web site: Air India Express moves to new campus, joins Air India in Vatika One-on-One complex in Gurugram. The Economic Times. 18 June 2024. 30 August 2024.
23. News: Mishra . Mihir . 3 September 2016 . Air India Express turns profitable for the first time . 9 February 2024 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
24. Web site: R . Venkatesan . 29 June 2017 . Air India Express nets Rs 297 cr profit in FY17 . 9 February 2024 . BusinessLine . en.
25. News: 9 November 2018 . Air India Express reports profit in FY18 . 9 February 2024 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
26. Web site: Air India Express reports highest-ever net profit at Rs 412.77 crore .
27. Air India Annual Report 20-21 . Air India . 20 November 2023.
28. News: 21 September 2022 . Air India Express incurs loss first time in seven years due to Covid . 5 February 2024 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
29. News: Majumder . Arindam . 9 August 2023 . Tata Sons-owned airlines post a loss of Rs 15,530 crore in FY 23 . 5 February 2024 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
30. News: Air India Express sets new course! Shifts focus on price-sensitive routes and leisure travellers . The Financial Express (India). 23 October 2023. 26 July 2024.
31. Web site: Summer timetable 2017: 26th March 2017 to 28th October 2017. Air India Express. 13 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170918100230/http://airindiaexpress.in/images/Summer%20Time%20Table%202017.pdf. 18 September 2017. dead.
32. News: Madurai-Singapore flight service to start from September 15. The Times of India. 2 August 2017.
33. Web site: Air India Express airline profile. CAPA Centre for Aviation. 13 September 2017.
34. News: Air India Express adds Agartala to its network as its 46th destination . Deccan Herald. 25 July 2024. 26 July 2024.
35. Web site: 2024-11-09 . AI Express plans more international flights; aims for 110 planes by Mar '25 . 2024-11-09 . Business Standard.
36. Web site: Air India begins Air India Express codeshare partnership from Dec 2016. Airlineroute. 6 December 2016.
37. Web site: Air India Express To Get 20 Airbus A320 Planes From Parent Company . 8 July 2024 . Free Press Journal . en.
38. Web site: Phadnis . Aneesh . 7 July 2024 . Air India to beef up AI Express fleet with 20 Airbus planes . 8 July 2024 . BusinessLine . en.
39. News: 1 January 2024 . Air India Express seeks final NCLT nod for AIX merger . Saurabh . Sinha . en . . 1 January 2024.
40. Air India Selects Up to 290 Boeing Jets to Serve Its Strategy for Sustainable Growth. Boeing. 14 February 2023.
41. Web site: Sharma . Anu . 18 October 2023 . New Air India Express eyes 170 planes in 5 years . 31 October 2023 . mint . en.
42. Web site: PTI . Air India Express to phase out business class seats next year; to have around 100 planes by year-end . 10 September 2024 . Deccan Herald . en.
43. News: Jet crash kills 158 in India; 8 survive. 23 May 2010. 23 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100524173517/http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/4120-jet-crash-kills-159-in-india-7-survive.html. 24 May 2010. dead.
44. News: Indian official: 158 dead in Air India plane crash in Mangalore . BNO News . 22 May 2010 . 5 June 2016.
45. News: Air India flight from Dubai crashes in India. NBC News. 21 May 2010. 5 June 2016.
46. News: Casualties feared in Air India crash. CNN. 22 May 2010. 22 May 2010.
47. News: India plane crash in Mangalore leaves nearly 160 dead. BBC News. 5 June 2016. 22 May 2010.
48. Web site: Accident Boeing 737-8HG (WL) VT-AYB, Tuesday 5 September 2017 . 9 September 2024 . asn.flightsafety.org.
49. Web site: Ranter. Harro. ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-8HG (WL) VT-AYD Tiruchirappalli-Civil Airport (TRZ). 25 September 2021. aviation-safety.net.
50. Web site: IX1344. 26 July 2024. . en.
51. Web site: Live News: Air India Express flight from Dubai over shoots table top runway. 7 August 2020. The Economic Times. en.
52. Web site: Both Pilots Among 18 Killed In Air India Express Plane Crash In Kerala: Updates. 10 August 2020. NDTV.com.
53. Web site: 2024-10-11 . Air India Express flight faces snag, lands after circling Trichy airport for two hours . 2024-10-12 . The Indian Express . en.
54. Web site: Exclusive: How Air India Express Pilots Handled Mid-Air Scare Over Trichy . 2024-10-12 . NDTV.com . en.