In a significant development for the Indian aviation sector, the Air India Group has completed the operational and legal merger of Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), creating a unified low-cost carrier under the “Air India Express” brand. This milestone is part of the Air India Group’s broader Vihaan.AI transformation program, which aims to consolidate four airlines into two by merging Vistara into Air India as well.
The merger process involved harmonizing operational manuals, transferring aircraft, and obtaining operational, safety, and maintenance approvals. The combined airline will now operate under a single code, IX, and has rapidly expanded its fleet to 88 aircraft, with plans to exceed 100 by the end of the financial year. This growth reflects the increasing demand for budget travel across India, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia.
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Vikram Dev Dutt, handed over the updated Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, at the DGCA headquarters in New Delhi. The DGCA closely monitored the merger process through a live tracker created by its Flight Standards Directorate, ensuring smooth integration within a challenging timeframe.
“The successful integration of AIX Connect with Air India Express is commendable and serves as a benchmark for airline mergers,” said Dutt, highlighting the complexity of the process and India’s growing aviation market.
India’s newest airline, Shankh Air, has received approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry to operate in the country. The airline will be based in Uttar Pradesh, with hubs in Lucknow and Noida, and will focus on both inter and intra state routes to major cities with high demand and limited direct flight options.
Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, acknowledged the collaborative efforts of DGCA, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Air India leadership team. “We worked on this complex integration exercise for over a year, and today, the two organizations have officially merged,” Singh said.Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India and Chairman of Air India Express, emphasized the importance of the merger in the Group’s transformation journey. “This milestone will pave the way for more appealing value products, particularly for India’s youth. We now look forward to the successful integration of Vistara with Air India on 12 November,” he added.
Since its acquisition by the Tata Group in early 2022, Air India Express has expanded significantly, increasing its route network from 74 to 171 and boosting passenger numbers by over 400 per cent. The airline’s future focus will be on continued growth and enhancing the travel experience for its customers.
