Air India Express MD Outlines Regional Focus Post-Merger with Air India
Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh has outlined a strategic route focus following the merger of Tata Group’s low-cost carriers, Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), completed in early October. Tata is also merging full-service carriers Air India (AI, Delhi International) and Vistara, with the finalization expected this week, marking a major reorganization of its airline interests.
Post-merger, Air India Express will concentrate on connecting tier two and three airports to larger hubs, while Air India will focus on major hub-to-hub routes, such as Delhi-Dubai International. Singh emphasized Air India Express’s role in supporting regional routes, highlighting examples like Goa Dabolim-Dubai and Delhi-Ranchi, while noting some overlap in high-demand markets.
“Our primary focus will be metro to non-metro routes and regional short-haul international destinations, especially tier two and three cities connecting to the Middle East and Southeast Asia,” Singh said. The restructuring aims to align each carrier’s services with demand, with Air India Express feeding traffic to Air India’s long-haul routes.
According to ch-aviation, Air India Express operates a fleet of 91 aircraft, serving destinations in India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Singapore. The airline aims to expand its international footprint, with plans for flights to Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and longer-term interest in Central Asian markets like Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines Group has increased its investment in Air India, trading its 49% Vistara stake for a 25.1% share in the unified Air India entity and contributing additional funds to support future growth.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com