Air India Express to Remove Business Class from Boeing 737s
Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, is set to phase out its small business class cabin on certain Boeing 737 aircraft, reflecting a strategic shift to better align with its budget-friendly business model. This decision comes in the wake of a report by the Indian Express, highlighting the airline’s intention to streamline its operations, reported ch-aviation.com.
The affected aircraft were originally ordered by other carriers that later canceled their orders. Consequently, Air India Express acquired these jets with their existing cabin configurations. Currently, data from ch-aviation indicates that Air India Express operates a business class on 30 of its 33 Boeing 737-8 aircraft. These jets were initially intended for Chinese airlines before being picked up by Air India for its subsidiary. Initially, the airline decided to retain the business class configuration due to the time and costs associated with retrofitting the cabins into an all-economy setup. However, the airline has now reassessed this approach.
An unnamed official commented, “Having a business class on a part of our fleet really does not fit well with our business model. We have been offering a premium product on these white-tails mainly because the planes already came with business class seats and we wanted to press them into operations at the earliest, instead of spending too much time on reconfiguring the cabin.” This change indicates a clear commitment to enhancing cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Air India holds significant aircraft orders, including 190 Boeing 737 MAX types. Of this total, 50 were previously ordered by other operators but later canceled, while 140 will be manufactured according to Air India’s specific requirements. As part of this extensive order, Air India Express anticipates receiving more business class-equipped Boeing 737-8s by the end of the year. However, these aircraft will also undergo reconfiguration to an all-economy layout to maintain consistency across the fleet.
Air India Express serves 49 destinations across nine countries. Its current fleet includes one A320-200, four A320-200Ns, 33 Boeing 737-8s, and 26 Boeing 737-800s. The airline is also in the process of merging with AIX Connect (formerly known as AirAsia India), which is expected to expand its total fleet to 100 aircraft by the end of this year and reach 180 by 2028.
The decision to eliminate the business class cabin aligns with industry trends among low-cost carriers, which increasingly focus on providing simplified service models that maximize efficiency while reducing operational costs. By shifting to an all-economy configuration, Air India Express aims to enhance its competitive edge in the budget travel market, making air travel more accessible for a larger customer base.
This strategic pivot not only underscores changing market dynamics but also reinforces Air India Express’s commitment to affordable travel options. As the airline prepares for further fleet expansion and restructuring, it is poised to solidify its position in the evolving aviation landscape, catering to the growing demand for economical travel solutions.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com