Air India express aims for second place with 50 Boeing 737 max planes
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Air India express aims for second place with 50 Boeing 737 max planes

Tata-owned Air India Express is embarking on an ambitious expansion strategy, intending to deploy 50 Boeing 737 Max planes by the end of 2024. This move comes as the airline seeks to secure a strong second position in India's fiercely competitive domestic aviation market, positioning itself behind market leader IndiGo. Currently operating 25 aircraft, Air India Express is in the process of merging with AirAsia India, which operates 28 Airbus A320neo planes. This consolidation will create the second largest low-cost carrier in India, significantly enhancing its market presence.
The expansion plan will be executed in two phases. The first phase involves adding 25 planes by June next year, with the initial aircraft joining the fleet in October. The subsequent phase will take place from August to December 2024. Notably, the airline's expedited growth is due in part to acquiring 737 Max planes originally designated for Chinese airlines amid the US-China tensions, enabling faster deliveries.
Air India Express's strategic focus is on strengthening existing domestic and international routes before expanding to new destinations. The airline has already received regulatory approval to operate under the common brand of Air India Express along with a codeshare agreement with Air India, enabling seamless connectivity.
Air India Express stands as the sole profitable airline within the Tata Group's aviation portfolio, having reported a profit of Rs 1.16 billion in fiscal year 2023. This profitability positions the airline strongly in the Tata Group's efforts to merge its aviation entities into two distinct carriers – a low-cost airline and a full-service carrier.

Tata-owned Air India Express is embarking on an ambitious expansion strategy, intending to deploy 50 Boeing 737 Max planes by the end of 2024. This move comes as the airline seeks to secure a strong second position in India's fiercely competitive domestic aviation market, positioning itself behind market leader IndiGo. Currently operating 25 aircraft, Air India Express is in the process of merging with AirAsia India, which operates 28 Airbus A320neo planes. This consolidation will create the second largest low-cost carrier in India, significantly enhancing its market presence.The expansion plan will be executed in two phases. The first phase involves adding 25 planes by June next year, with the initial aircraft joining the fleet in October. The subsequent phase will take place from August to December 2024. Notably, the airline's expedited growth is due in part to acquiring 737 Max planes originally designated for Chinese airlines amid the US-China tensions, enabling faster deliveries.Air India Express's strategic focus is on strengthening existing domestic and international routes before expanding to new destinations. The airline has already received regulatory approval to operate under the common brand of Air India Express along with a codeshare agreement with Air India, enabling seamless connectivity.Air India Express stands as the sole profitable airline within the Tata Group's aviation portfolio, having reported a profit of Rs 1.16 billion in fiscal year 2023. This profitability positions the airline strongly in the Tata Group's efforts to merge its aviation entities into two distinct carriers – a low-cost airline and a full-service carrier.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Next Story
Real Estate

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Driving Infrastructure Forward with Trustworthy AI

At its Year in Infrastructure 2025 conference in Amsterdam, Bentley Systems reaffirmed its vision for trustworthy AI and connected digital ecosystems shaping the future of infrastructure engineering. The company unveiled AI-powered design applications and Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect, a unifying platform connecting data, workflows and professionals across the project lifecycle.“AI is poised to transform infrastructure,” said Nicholas Cumins, CEO, Bentley Systems. “At Bentley, our vision is for AI to empower engineers – not replace them. Trustworthy AI, built on infrastruct..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?