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About Air India Express

Air India Express is an Indian low-cost carrier airline based in Kochi, India. The airline is a subsidiary of the airline Air India and operated by Air India Charters Limited (ACL). The airline flies to 29 destinations within Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East with 550 flights per week.

Air India Express was founded in 2005 and launched 3 flights between Thiruvanathapuram, Kozhikode and Kochi. The airline was launched as a low-cost carrier in order to provide convenient connectivity to short-haul international routes, in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for the Indian expatriate community. As it is a low-cost carrier, the airline operates point-to-point flights without any hub. There is also an Air India Express Mobile App to amend and modify bookings and passengers in-flight services.

Is Air India Express part of Air India?

Air India Express is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India.

Air India Express Baggage

Carry-on Baggage

Passengers are permitted 1 x 7kg of hand luggage for their Air India Express flights. The dimensions of this item must not exceed the combined dimensions of 115cm (L+W+H).

Checked Baggage

Air India Express designate baggage allowances depending on the route travelling:

• Gulf to India - 20/30/40kgs (will be based on the fare purchased)
• India to Gulf - 20kgs
• Singapore to India - 20/30kg
• India to all other international destinations - 20kg
• Domestic flights - 25kg

The sum of the combined dimensions must not exceed 62inches (158cm). This is calculated by adding the length, breadth and height.

Air India Express Check-In Information

Online Check-In

Air India Express do not currently offer passengers the ability to check-in for their flights online.

Air India Express Airport Check-In

Passengers must visit the Air India Express check-in counter at the airport to complete this process. This will open 3 hours before scheduled departure, and close 1 hour prior, unless otherwise stated on the ticket.

Air India Express Food

Air India Express Meal Options

Air India Express does not provide any meals free of charge, but provide a complimentary snack box onboard their flights. In addition, passengers can purchase additional snacks or a hot meals and fruits in advance of flying. Meals must be preordered at least 24 hours before flying, by contacting Air India Express or via the ‘Manage my Booking’ section of the website. Meals available to purchase include breakfast, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, hot lunches and dinners including Indian inspired cuisine, and also sandwiches and snacks such as chicken dishes and fruit.

Air India Express Special Dietary Requirements

Air India Express do not offer specific meals for and dietary requirements, as there is no full meal provided on their flight. Passengers can check the meal's ingredients when ordering to see if they are suitable for them. Alternatively, passengers can bring their own food with them on the plane.

Air India Express Drinks & Alcohol

Air India Express provide passengers complimentary tea/coffee and water when a meal is ordered. In addition, passengers can purchase drinks from the drinks service during their flight.

Alternative Airlines to Air India Express

Please click on the logos below to find out more about airlines that fly similar routes to Air India Express:

Air India Express Fleet

Boeing 737-800

Air India Express Destinations

Air India Express Route Map

Air India Express Hub Airport

Cochin International Airport

Cochin International Airport is an international airport located in Kochi, Kerala, India. As Kerala’s largest and busiest airport, 2017 saw the airport handle around 10.2 million passengers from nearly 69 thousand aircraft.

In 2015, Cochin International Airport because the world’s first fully solar powered airport, and as a result has received a ‘Champion of the Earth’ award by the United Nations.

The airport is the hub for Air India Express, but also a focus city for IndiGo, Air India and Spice Jet.

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Air India Express Payment Plans

You can buy Air India Express flights and pay later with Alternative Airlines. If you are flying from the UK and returning, choose Fly Now Pay Later and pay off your Air India Express flights in instalments. You can also make an Air India flight booking and pay back instalments. See all the Alternative Airlines flight finance plans on offer.

Air India Express News

29th June 2018

Air India Express to fly four times a week to Israel

Due to the rise in tourism from Israel to India, the parent company of Air India Express, have increased its frequency of flights from Delhi - Tel Aviv from Three to four days a week. This new growth will be implemented from July 14 this year. Air India will now fly a 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner every Saturday, as well as the already scheduled Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. El Al Israel operates flights between Mumbai and Tel Aviv so there may be hints of increased competition for the Israeli airline.The ministry said another Israeli airline ‘Arkia’ too has also shown interest to operate direct flights between Israel and India to cater to the significant rise in the air traffic volume between the two countries. The flight will take just over 7 hours.

14th May 2018

Air India records 20% growth in revenue

In February, the civil aviation ministry said Air India has been "consistently improving" its overall performance and more than doubled its operating profit to Rs 298.03 crore in 2016-17.

India has recorded a 20 per cent growth in revenue in March-April 2018 and has embarked on a route analysis exercise, focussing on increasing flying hours of each of its aircraft, to add more trips, the airline’s chairman-cum-managing director, Pradeep Singh Kharola, said.

The airline is focussing on improving the operational efficiency both in the domestic and international sectors even as it is buoyed over the load factor, on time performance and revenue growth, Kharola told PTI. “During March-April, the revenue has increased by about 20 per cent as compared to the same period last year at roughly about Rs 3,000 crore, though expenses continue to remain high,” he said, adding that the airline has benefitted from the overall growth in the aviation market.

He pinned high hopes on international routes, generating 70 per cent of Air India’s total revenue, stating that the new destinations such as Tel Aviv is giving good returns to the carrier. The increase of frequency to the San Francisco route to nine days a week is expected to give the airline Rs 90 crore a month. “We are focussing on improving on the operational efficiency. We are doing our route analysis and all, finding out which are the more yielding routes and we are focussing on those routes.

“At the same time, we want to increase the flying hours of each aircraft, we are trying to push the number of hours so that with the same aircraft we can do more trips,” Kharola said. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Air India had a market share of 13.4 per cent in March 2018. With a fleet of over 150 aircraft, Air India currently boasts of over 2,500 international prime-time slots per week in 43 destinations and 3,800 domestic slots in 54 destinations.

Kharola, however, did not elaborate about the network analysis exercise or the new routes the airline is eyeing, especially in the international sector. However, he hinted that the African continent promises to hold a better future for the airline. In February, the civil aviation ministry said Air India has been “consistently improving” its overall performance and more than doubled its operating profit to Rs 298.03 crore in 2016-17.

During the same period, the airline’s net loss widened to Rs 5,765.16 crore. In 2015-16, Air India had an operating profit of Rs 105 crore, while the net loss stood at Rs 3,836.77 crore. The ailing airline has been put on the block with the government proposing to divest 76 per cent of its stake in the airline.

9th March 2018

Air India Express provides priority boarding to 260 passengers for international women's day

Air India Express flew over 260 women passengers with a smile on their face due to a treat in favour of International Woman's day. All women passengers flying out of Dubai and Sharjah Airport were provided with priority check-in, priority seats and priority boarding. As well as this, the airline also operated with an all-women crew across the globe, including UAE and India.

"Four Air India Express flights from Dubai to Mangalore, Delhi, Kochi and Mumbai were operated by all women commanders and cabin crew", said Saket Saran, the Country Manager of Air India and Air India Express. The Air India Express flight Dubai to Kochi was operated by cockpit crew, captains Chameli Krottapalli and Gangurde Manjiri assisted by cabin crew Surya Sudhan, Amala Johnson, Lethika Rajand Anisha K.A. He added, "The flights operated out of Terminal 2 Dubai Airport, were headed by a lady airport manager Priya Kannan. We decided to make it a memorable occasion for all the women flyers." Saran added, "Instead of offering lady passengers a conventional rosebud, women travellers were also treated to a specially designed greeting card and a pack of chocolates. " Similar arrangements were made for women passengers travelling on Air India Express flights from Sharjah.

28th September 2017

Air India Express commences its fourth route to Singapore

Air India Express commenced its fourth route to Singapore (SIN) on 15 September in the form of a four times weekly link from Madurai (IXM). The 3,013-kilometre sector, which will no face direct competition and will be flown on the carrier’s 737-800s. Along with Madurai, Air India Express also links Singapore to Chennai, Kolkata and Tiruchirappalli. With the launch of flights between Madurai and Singapore, the latter is now connected to 16 destinations in India, served by a total of eight carriers on 241 weekly flights.

19th September 2017

Air India Express commence Madurai to Singapore route

Air India Express commenced its fourth route to Singapore(SIN) on 15 September in the form of a four times weekly link from Madurai(IXM).

The 3,013-kilometre sector, which will no face direct competition and will be flown on the carrier’s 737-800s. Along with Madurai, Air India Express also links Singapore to Chennai, Kolkata and Tiruchirappalli. With the launch of flights between Madurai and Singapore, the latter is now connected to 16 destinations in India, served by a total of eight carriers on 241 weekly flights when referring to OAG schedules.

15th September 2017

Air India Express looks to scrap Pune-Dubai flight

The flight — the first international one from the city — has been making losses, a top official of the company said. Air India Express is a subsidiary company of Air India that is up for disinvestment.

"We are losing a lot of money on the flight. However, we are yet to make up our minds. We should be able to take a final call in a week or two. SpiceJet has got daily flights from Pune to Dubai," K. Shyamsundar, the CEO of Air India Express, told TOI.

The official admitted that bookings from November onwards were not being accepted. "The bookings on the flight are open until October-end. However, we have stopped taking bookings for November," the official added.

Sources said bookings being stopped is the first step of a company looking to stop flight operations.

"I was trying to book the flight to Dubai. I plan on travelling in November. However, when I couldn't find this flight to make my booking, I wrote to the customer care support of Air India Express. I got a message that said there is no flight available between the Pune-Dubai sector after October. It seems, the officials have already decided on it. For the Pune airport, which has got just four international direct flights, this is bad news," Arun Khatri, a Pune-based businessman told TOI.

Though Pune airport authorities had said that they are encouraging airlines to start international operations from Pune, no airline company has yet finalised the plans for the same. An official said, "We do not have clear information about the Air India Express flight, but it is a fact that airlines have not been very keen to start international flights from Pune despite encouragement. However, we are hopeful... any airline can come out with an announcement soon." An official said since Dubai is the gateway to the West, fewer direct flights to the destination from Pune was a trend that needed to be arrested.

Aviation analyst Dhairyashil Vandekar said Air India Express was a profit-making airline. "It is being managed professionally. But at times, considering the overview of the network, route economics need to be put in place. There are times when such decisions must be taken," he said.

7th August 2017

Air India Express launches direct Delhi-Madurai flight

Air India's low-cost arm Air India Express today announced the launch of direct flight between Delhi and Madurai with effect from September 15. 

The introductory one-way fare offered on Delhi-Madurai sector starts from Rs 3,975 and the return journey fare starts from Rs 7,950, the airline said in a statement. 

The service will be offered 4 x weekly i.e. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. 

24th July 2017

Air India Express plans ways to boost brand visibility

No-frills airline Air India Express is preparing to bolster its brand visibility online, especially among the expatriates in West Asia and South East Asia, according to a tender document.

As it embarks on ambitious expansion plans, Air India Express has floated a tender soliciting interest from entities that can set up and manage "search engine marketing channels" for the airline.

17th July 2017

Air India Express has decided to start four services from Kochi to Doha from next month

In the first stage, the airline will launch three direct flight services to Doha from Kochi, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, from August 15 and one more will be launched by September 15, The New Indian Express has reported.

At present, Air India Express operates 14 flights per week between India and Doha, of which seven connect Kerala to Doha. With four more services being added, there will be 11 flights to Doha from Kerala and a total of 18 flights from the country in a week.

The airline is planning to scale up its operations to Qatar, The Economic Times adds. “We have rescheduled our operations to Qatar and are introducing new flights to Doha in the next two months,” CEO K Shyam Sundar was quoted as saying.

Air India Express has already enhanced operations to Qatar by offering additional flights from June 24 to address the increase in demand due to the blockade.

15th May 2017

Air India Express announces three additional weekly flights

With competition growing in the Gulf aviation sector, Air India Express is working on ways to spread its wings further.

This low-cost Indian carrier has announced three additional weekly flights to Kochi from Abu Dhabi.

Air India Express travel consultant Abdul Salih said the service will come into effect from June 15.

Such an agreement, if reached with any of Abu Dhabi-, Dubai- or Sharjah-based airline, will add to passengers' comfort who take multiple flights.

The airline carries around 3.5 million passengers a year and has a fleet of 23 Boeing 737­800 aircraft. At present, Air India Express flies to 15 international destinations.