Air India completes integration of Air India Express and AIX Connect

03 Oct 2024 CW Team

The Air India Group has completed the full integration of its two low-cost carriers, Air India Express Ltd and AIX Connect Pvt Ltd, after receiving final approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), including the transfer of air operator certificates.

The merger consolidates AIX Connect Pvt Ltd, formerly AirAsia India—a joint venture between Tata Sons and AirAsia Bhd—into Air India Express. The integration involved harmonising operational manuals, transferring aircraft, and obtaining operational, safety, and maintenance approvals.

DGCA Director General Vikram Dev Dutt highlighted the successful merger as a benchmark for airline integrations, emphasising the importance of a robust regulatory framework for India's rapidly growing aviation sector. He praised the collaborative efforts of the DGCA and the operator in achieving this milestone.

Air India Managing Director and CEO Campbell Wilson described the integration as a significant step in Air India’s Vihaan.ai transformation journey. He noted that the next phase will involve the merger of full-service carrier Vistara into Air India by November 12, with plans to create a comprehensive airline focused on long-haul international routes, while Air India Express will continue to target short-haul low-cost operations.

The current fleet size of Air India Express stands at 88 aircraft, with nearly four new aircraft joining monthly. The fleet is projected to surpass 100 aircraft by the end of the current financial year, serving routes across India, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia.

Tata Sons acquired Air India from the Indian government in January 2022 for ?18,000 crore as part of the airline’s privatisation.

(ET)

Equipment

12 Dec 2025

Escorts Kubota Unveils BS V Next-gen Construction Range at Excon 2025

Escorts Kubota (EKL), one of India’s major engineering groups in the agricultural and construction equipment sectors, unveiled its latest BS V–compliant construction machinery line-up at Excon 2025. The refreshed portfolio underscores the company’s push toward application-driven, high-productivity solutions that reduce ownership costs and meet the needs of India’s expanding infrastructure landscape. With demand rising across urban development, industrial logistics and mining, the new range aims to deliver higher performance, durability and operator comfort.In the earthmoving segment, E..

ACE and Kotak Mahindra Bank Join Hands to Boost Backhoe Loader Financing

Action Construction Equipment (ACE), the world’s largest Pick-n-Carry crane maker and a leading manufacturer of material handling and construction equipment in India, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Kotak Mahindra Bank to enhance the availability of flexible financing options for backhoe loader customers across the country.The collaboration aims to support contractors, infrastructure companies, entrepreneurs, SMEs, and emerging businesses by offering smoother access to credit through customised loan schemes, quicker turnaround times, and the extensive footprint of Kotak M..

Suraj Estate Wins Euromoney Award for India’s Best Residential Developer

"Suraj Estate Developers Limited has received the Euromoney Real Estate Award 2025 for ‘India’s Best Residential Developer’, positioning the company among globally benchmarked leaders in the sector. The recognition reflects its four-decade legacy in delivering high-quality residential and redevelopment-led projects across South Central Mumbai. The Euromoney Real Estate Awards, presented by the London-based Euromoney magazine, are widely regarded as one of the most credible global assessments of performance in real estate, banking and finance. Winners are selected through surveys of inte..