Air India Express

Taxi to Take Off: Air India says Phase 1 of its transformation complete

First phase focused on addressing legacy issues, strengthening fleet, upgrading systems and hiring

Air India Express, AirAsia India focus on common check-in systems

The launch of the new website was enabled by the migration to a common reservations and check-in system, which now unifies the entire commercial ecosystem of the two airlines

Air India's low-cost subsidiaries move to single unified reservation system

The two carriers, Air India Express and AirAsia India, have also adopted a common social media and customer support channel; air operating permits and regulatory posts to be merged later

Air India Express commences four weekly direct flights on Goa-Dubai route

Air India Express, India's first international budget airline, on Monday said it has commenced operations from Goa International Airport, with four weekly direct flights on the Goa-Dubai route. The first flight IX 840 took off at 1:00 am on Monday with 148 passengers on board from Dabolim Airport. To mark the occasion, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express and AirAsia India, said: "We are thrilled to start our maiden international services from Goa under the Air India Express banner, which is amongst India's most popular tourist destinations". Singh said that the airline takes pride in being the only airline that offers direct connectivity to Dubai from Goa. AirAsia India, which is set to merge with Air India Express, already operates 13 daily direct flights to/from Goa, connecting five domestic cities. "We hope to be a part of the tourism success story of the state and remain committed to offering the best of services to our customers," he added. Earlier in the evenin

AI Express-AirAsia India merger will present big opportunities: CEO Singh

The integration of Air India Express and AirAsia India is expected to be complete by the end of next financial year and the merged entity will have "enormous growth opportunities" in the coming years, according to a top executive. Air India, Air India Express, Vistara and AirAsia India, now rebranded as AIX Connect are part of the Tata Group. The merger process of Air India Express and AirAsia India as well as that of Vistara with Air India is underway. Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh on Monday said the businesses of the airline and AIX Connect are complementary. The merged entity of Air India Express and AirAsia India will look at large growth opportunities and also unlock the synergies between the two carriers, Singh said. Speaking at the CAPA aviation summit here, he also said the merger of the two carriers is expected to be complete by the end of next fiscal. Singh is now in charge of both Air India Express and AirAsia India. Meanwhile, during another session, Vistara CE

Air India Express cabin crew held for gold smuggling in Kochi airport

An Air India Express flight cabin crew has been arrested by the Customs for allegedly smuggling over 1.4 kg gold through Cochin International Airport near here, official sources said on Thursday. The crew of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi Air India Express flight was apprehended by the Customs sleuths, who recovered the gold that was wrapped around his hands on Wednesday. Air India Express said the arrested crew has been placed on suspension with immediate effect. The airline said it has zero tolerance for such behaviour and will be taking stern action against the individual including termination of service following receipt of the report from the investigative authorities.

Air India Express safety woes linger as jet makes emergency landing

Flight to Saudi Arabia from Kozhikode lands at Thiruvananthapuram after two hours

Air India Express Kozhikode flight diverted due to 'suspected' tail strike

A Dammam-bound Air India Express flight from Kozhikode, was on Friday diverted to the international airport here, following a 'suspected' tail strike during take off. The Air India Express flight IX 385, carrying 168 passengers, landed safely at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at 12.15 PM, following which airport authorities withdrew the full emergency which was declared earlier. Air India said the flight on Kozhikode-Dammam route was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram due to suspected tail strike while taking off from Calicut airport. The airlines made arrangements to send the passengers to Dammam by an alternate flight which is scheduled to take off from Thiruvananthapuram this evening itself. "The airline staff are attending to all the requirements of the passengers at Thiruvananthapuram," Air India said in a release. Meanwhile, Aviation regulator DGCA said it will probe the incident. The Adani Group, which manages the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, said they h

Saudi Arabia-bound Air India Express flight makes emergency landing at TVM

After it developed a snag in its hydraulic systems, the flight en route to Dammam, was given permission to land at the international airport here around 12.15 pm

AI Express Mumbai-Dubai flight gets delayed by 13 hrs due to technical snag

As many as 170 passengers of an Air India Express flight to Dubai had a tough time at the airport here as the flight was delayed by 13 hours due to a technical snag. The flight, which was scheduled to take off for Dubai at 3 pm on Thursday, finally left at 4 am on Friday. In a statement, Tata Group-owned Air India Express said it provided assistance to some 50 passengers, who had special requirements, including the lounge facility. However, the remaining 120 passengers were kept at the airport terminal building, an airline source said. A total of 170 passengers were booked for the flight. Significantly, Tata Group operates at least four luxury hotels in the city with one in the domestic airport terminal premises itself. "Air India Express flight IX 247 on Mumbai-Dubai route on February 9, 2023 had a progressive delay due to a technical snag, which was beyond the control of the airline," the airline said. "We made all possible efforts to minimise the difficulties of our guests, di

Chaos at Cochin airport over suspected hydraulic failure in flight

An Air India Express flight from Sharjah made an emergency landing at Cochin International Airport here on Sunday following a suspected hydraulic failure, a CIAL spokesperson said. A full emergency was declared at the international airport at 8.04 PM and the aircraft landed safely at 8.26 PM, the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) spokesperson said. No runways were blocked and no flights were diverted, he said. The emergency was withdrawn at 8.36 PM and air operations were declared normal, he added. The CIAL also said that all 193 passengers and six crew members onboard IX 412 from Sharjah were safe.

Air India likely to post consolidated profit in current fiscal: Report

Air India had been ailing for a long time, before the Tata Group took it over on January 27 last year

AI Express, AirAsia India exploring synergies in terms of customer base

Air India Express and AirAsia India, which has changed its name to AIX Connect, are exploring synergies in terms of having unified customer touch points ahead of their proposed merger, according to an official. Both the low-cost airlines and full-service carriers -- Air India and Vistara -- are owned by Tata group. On November 2, Air India said an operational review process is underway to integrate budget carrier AirAsia India with Air India Express, and the merger is likely to be completed by the end of 2023. Post-merger, the entity will be branded as Air India Express. AirAsia India has changed its name to AIX Connect Pvt Ltd, according to data available with the corporate affairs ministry. The official said the name of the budget airline has been changed as part of the ongoing merger process. Both airlines are looking at synergies with respect to customer touch points, such as having a common website, social media handles and call centre. Other aspects, including common boardin

Snake found in AI Express plane's cargo hold; DGCA to probe incident

A snake was found in the cargo hold of an Air India Express plane after it landed at the Dubai airport on Saturday and aviation regulator DGCA is probing the incident, according to a senior official. The B737-800 aircraft came from Calicut, Kerala and the passengers were safely deplaned. The senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said a snake was found in the cargo hold of the plane on arrival at the Dubai airport and the airport fire services were also informed. It is a ground handling lapse. The incident shall be probed and suitable enforcement action shall be taken, the official told PTI. An Air India Express spokesperson could not be reached for comments. Details about the number of passengers could not be immediately ascertained.

US transport dept fines Air India $1.4 mn for delaying refunds of $121 mn

Refunds were on account of flights cancelled during Covid-19 pandemic; AI among six airlines that collectively forked out $600 mn in refunds and $7.25 mn in penalties

AirAsia India-Air India Express merger likely by 2023-end: Air India

Air India on Wednesday said an operational review process is underway to integrate budget carrier AirAsia India with Air India Express and the merger is likely by the end of 2023. Tata group-owned Air India has also signed agreements to have a 100 per cent stake in AirAsia India. The carrier is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Air Asia Investment Ltd. Tata Sons has an 83.67 per cent stake and the remaining 16.33 per cent shareholding is with AirAsia. The merger, likely by the end of 2023, is aimed at having a single low-cost carrier for the Air India group. Post-merger, the entity will be branded as Air India Express, according to a statement. AirAsia India was launched in 2014 while Air India Express started operations back in 2005. The consolidation of the two low-cost carriers -- AirAsia India and Air India Express -- will be undertaken as part of the restructuring roadmap that is being envisioned for the Tata group's airline business, Air India said in a statement. "The .

AirAsia exits AirAsia India, sells 16.33% stake to Air India for Rs 156 cr

Malaysian carrier's India foray ends after eight years; Tatas are working to merge AirAsia India with low-cost service Air India Express

Air India Express begins direct flight service between Vijayawada, Sharjah

Air India Express' direct flight service between Vijayawada and Sharjah in the UAE was inaugurated by MPs Vallabhaneni Balashowry and Kesineni Srinivas at the Vijayawada International Airport on Monday. As the first flight from Sharjah, with about 60 passengers on board, landed at the airport at around 4:35 pm, it was welcomed with the customary water cannon salute. The Boeing 737 aircraft departed for Sharjah at 6:35 pm. Air India Express will operate the service twice a week -- Monday and Saturday. Air India Express is also going to start the Vijayawada-Muscat biweekly service from November 5, Air India authorities said.

Running airline in JV a challenge, says Air India CEO Campbell Wilson

'Air India already has scale... we are not doing this from scratch. We are doing this from a running start', said Wilson

Singapore Airlines confirms Vistara-Air India merger discussions

SIA, however, has cautioned its investors that there is no certainty of a deal