Air India Express to Expand Fleet and Add New Routes to Southeast Asia and the Middle East by 2025

Air India Express, following its recent merger with AIX Connect, is set to expand its fleet to over 110 aircraft by the end of the fiscal year and aims to serve 55 destinations by March 2025. The airline, now part of Tata Group's consolidation of its aviation business, will focus on connecting tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India with key metro areas and new international destinations, including Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand.

Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, highlighted the growth opportunities in smaller cities and towns, describing these areas as significant for the airline’s short-haul international network. Singh noted that the carrier’s expansion plans involve adding flights from tier-2 and tier-3 cities to the Gulf, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, with potential long-term growth into South Asia and the Far East.

Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India Express, shared that new flights to Bangkok are anticipated from tier-2 cities, while services to Phuket may depart from metro locations. The airline is also evaluating potential routes to Malaysia, Hong Kong, and select Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations, depending on sector performance.

The network expansion is part of a larger strategy aligned with Tata Group's restructuring of its aviation operations, which includes merging Vistara into Air India. This shift in the group’s structure is expected to create a more unified and cohesive network, enhancing connectivity between the full-service and low-cost segments.

In terms of product offerings, Singh confirmed that Air India Express has no plans to introduce premium economy seating, maintaining a configuration of economy and select business class seats across its fleet.