Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India and owned by Tata Group, is set to introduce, upgrade, and resume several domestic routes in the coming days, marking a significant expansion in its flight operations. This move comes as part of the airline’s ambitious plan to increase its flight operations by 40 percent next year, fueled by the addition of new aircraft to its fleet.
KOLKATA – KOCHI / HYDERABAD / IMPHAL
- One of the notable introductions is the launch of Kolkata – Kochi flights, scheduled to commence on April 4, 2024. These flights will operate daily, except Saturdays, using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The schedule for this route will be as follows: Departure from Kolkata at 11:25, arriving in Kochi at 14:35, with the return leg departing Kochi at 15:05 and arriving in Kolkata at 18:10.
- In another development for Kolkata, Air India Express will add a fourth frequency on the Kolkata – Hyderabad route from April 4, 2024. These flights will also operate daily, utilizing a Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The schedule for this route will be as follows: Departure from Kolkata at 19:00, arriving in Hyderabad at 20:55, with the return leg departing Hyderabad at 21:45 and arriving in Kolkata at 23:45.
- Additionally, Air India Express will resume flights between Kolkata and Imphal from April 4, 2024. These daily flights will be operated using an A320 aircraft, with the schedule set as departure from Kolkata at 07:00, arriving in Imphal at 08:05, and the return leg departing Imphal at 08:35 and arriving in Kolkata at 10:20.
HYDERABAD – BAGDOGRA / VIJAYAWADA
- Expanding its network further, Air India Express will inaugurate Hyderabad – Bagdogra flights from April 2, 2024. These daily flights will operate with departure from Hyderabad at 14:40, arriving in Bagdogra at 17:20, and the return leg departing Bagdogra at 17:50 and arriving in Hyderabad at 20:50.
- Also, Air India Express will launch Hyderabad – Vijayawada flights from April 2, 2024. These daily flights will depart from Hyderabad at 07:25, arriving in Vijayawada at 08:15, and the return leg departing Vijayawada at 08:55 and arriving in Hyderabad at 09:50.
BANGALORE – CHENNAI / AYODHYA
- In a move to enhance connectivity, Air India Express will commence its third Chennai – Bangalore flight on April 4, 2024. These daily flights will operate between the two cities with a schedule as follows: Departure from Bangalore at 08:05, arriving in Chennai at 09:00, and the return leg departing Chennai at 09:35 and arriving in Bangalore at 10:35.
- In addition to these expansions, Air India Express plans to increase the frequency of its Bengaluru – Ayodhya – Kolkata route to 5x weekly from the current 3x weekly starting from the summer season. Operations will be conducted on all days except Tuesdays and Saturdays. This route enhancement follows the initiation of non-stop Bengaluru and Ayodhya flights on January 17 this year.
AIX GROWTH
Air India Express operates a robust schedule of over 300 daily flights, servicing 31 domestic and 14 international destinations. Its fleet of 65 aircraft includes 37 Boeing 737s and 28 Airbus A320s. The airline’s expansion plans are backed by its ongoing acquisition of 50 Boeing 737 Max planes by the end of this year, with over 15 already joined its fleet. The focus remains on strengthening domestic routes, although the airline plans to launch flights to Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during the upcoming summer season. With these developments, Air India Express aims to significantly enhance its presence in the aviation sector, catering to the growing demand for air travel in India.
