Air India Express Expands Fleet, Defers Dhaka Flights

Air India Express Grows Fleet, Delays Dhaka Flights

Air India Express, Air India’s budget airline, is planning a significant expansion by increasing its fleet size and introducing new routes, driven by strong passenger growth. However, the airline has delayed its plans to launch direct flights between Kolkata and Dhaka due to the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh.

“You may recall that we announced our operational plan for Dhaka, which is a crucial new market for us. But due to the situation there, we have decided to defer those plans,” stated Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express.

He added, “As soon as the conditions improve, we will resume those plans.”

The airline initially intended to start services to Dhaka in September, offering six weekly flights. Despite this deferment, Singh emphasized the airline’s commitment to expanding its presence in the eastern sector. He announced that international service flights to and from Kathmandu will commence with the summer schedule starting at the end of March 2025.

Speaking to reporters, Singh noted the airline’s strong growth potential, which was highlighted by daily passenger movement in India surpassing 500,000 in November. To capitalise on this growth, Air India Express aims to expand its fleet size to over 100 aircraft by March 2025, up from the current fleet of 90. Singh revealed that over the next three years, the fleet is expected to increase to approximately 175 aircraft.

Singh also pointed out that Air India Express is part of the Air India Group, which has announced plans to acquire 400 aircraft at the group level in the next three years. The airline’s network expansion will primarily focus on short-haul routes within 5.5 to 6 hours, connecting metro cities with tier-II and tier-III destinations to tap into emerging opportunities.

Air India Express operates 24 daily flights from Kolkata, which will increase by 10 in the summer schedule. These additions will include new routes and enhanced frequency of existing services. Moreover, the airline plans to boost its night halt capacity in Kolkata from seven to nine aircraft. Regarding improved connectivity in the northeast, Singh announced the introduction of a new flight connecting Dimapur to Kolkata. According to Singh, Patna is another target destination for expansion.

He also highlighted that Air India Express intends to strengthen its presence in the Gulf and Middle Eastern regions while expanding into Southeast Asia. New destinations under consideration include Bangkok, Singapore, Vietnam, and Colombo, with flights to Vietnam potentially starting in the next financial year or the following year. The airline is also exploring opportunities in CIS countries.

The airline reported a 37% increase in weekly flight frequencies from Kolkata and Bagdogra, rising from 168 last winter to over 230. New direct routes from Kolkata include Port Blair, Indore, and Agartala, while new routes from Bagdogra include Hyderabad and Chennai.

Air India Express operates over 400 daily flights, connecting 36 domestic and 15 international destinations. Its fleet comprises 90 aircraft, including 61 Boeing 737s and 29 Airbus A320s. The airline holds a 12% market share in Kolkata, which increases to 24% when combined with its parent company, Air India.