NEW DELHI: Air India Express is poised to enhance its operational network and maximise group synergies, predominantly targeting the connectivity between smaller cities and major metropolitan areas.
According to senior officials, the strategic approach is part of a larger endeavour to meet the growing demand for air travel in India, particularly in underserved regions.
Following the recent merger with AIX Connect, Air India Express has bolstered its fleet to approximately 90 aircraft, with an expectation to exceed 110 by the conclusion of the current fiscal year.
The airline aims to expand its reach to 55 destinations by March 2025, recognising the significance of integrating domestic and international offerings as dictated by the broader Air India Group strategy.
Managing Director Aloke Singh emphasised the airline’s focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, describing these regions as the crucial engines of growth for the aviation sector.
He articulated that the bulk of market demand stems from non-metro to metro routes, thus underscoring a need for targeted service expansion. The regional strategy will initially prioritise connections from these smaller cities to international destinations in the Gulf, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and eventually South Asia and parts of the Far East.
Enhancing travel experience
Moreover, Chief Commercial Officer Ankur Garg outlined forthcoming routes to Bangkok and Phuket, potentially linking these destinations with Tier 2 and metropolitan areas, respectively. The airline is also contemplating flights to Malaysia, Hong Kong, and countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the foreseeable future.
In a deliberate move to maintain operational efficiency, Singh elaborated on the airline’s intent to avoid overextending its resources.
The strategy underlines the importance of creating seamless connectivity between Air India Express’s budget services and the full-service offerings of Air India, thereby enhancing the travel experience for passengers transitioning between different tiers of service.
While there are no immediate plans to introduce a premium economy class, current offerings include both economy seats and limited business class options.
The decision reflects a focused service model catering primarily to budget travelers while ensuring connectivity across a well-structured route network.
