Tata Group-owned Air India Express is set to expand international operations this winter to cater to the growing festive demand with the induction of seven aircraft, sources told FE.
Accordingly, the airline will get five Airbus A320neo aircraft transferred from AIX Connect (formerly known as AirAsia India).
As per sources, the airline will utilise these aircraft in the West Asian sector, where it is the largest operator from India.
“These aircraft will be deployed on the India-West Asia routes during the upcoming festive and holiday season,” sources told FE.
“Heavy traffic demand is anticipated on this route during the festive season.”
At present, Air India Express operates around 700 flights per week between India and the Gulf region utilising 26 aircraft.
The development assumes significance since other airlines plan to enhance their international operations too.
Furthermore, Akasa Air will start international flights soon.
On its part, Air India Express plans for a major expansion in the Southeast Asia region during the coming months.
“Currently, the airline only operates flight between destinations in India to Singapore in this region,” sources said.
“There are high chances that flights to destinations in Thailand, Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia might be started soon.”
Recently, Aloke Singh, the airline’s managing director, said at an event in Mumbai that the passenger carrier will be inducting 50 new aircraft over the next 15 months.
“Over the course of the next five years, we aim to grow to a fleet of about 170 narrow-body aircraft, with a network spanning domestic India and short-haul international markets,” Singh said.
At present, the airline has a combined fleet of 56 aircraft.
It is also in the final stages of a merger with AirAsia India, making it a mega-low-cost carrier with a footprint across domestic and international market segments.
Further driving the synergy between the two airlines, a common brand identity and livery were launched in Mumbai last week.
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