Air India Express
is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Kochi, Kerala. It is operated by Air India Express Limited (AIEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian flag carrier airline Air India. It operates around 649 flights per week to 33 destinations including the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The airline carries around 4.3 million passengers every year connecting 140 city pairs. It has secondary hubs in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Mangaluru and Kannur
History
Air India Express came into existence on 29 April 2005, with the launch of three flights that took off simultaneously from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. The airline was launched as a low-cost carrier (LCC) with the objective of providing convenient connectivity, to short-haul international routes, in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for the Indian expatriate community. Air India Express was Air India’s response to the growing popularity of LCCs worldwide and within the region. Being an LCC, the airline operates point-to-point flights with multiple hubs all over India.
In December 2012, Air India ratified the proposal to move the headquarters to Kochi in January 2013 and to establish a new MRO base at Thiruvananthapuram.
Revenue
As per the audited accounts approved by the Airline’s Board of Directors on 27 October 2020, the Airline’s operating revenues grew by over 25% from ₹4,172 crore (US$550 million) in FY 2018–19 to ₹5,219 crore (US$690 million) in FY 2019–20. It is worth noting that the revenue growth was achieved despite the adverse market conditions due to the onset of COVID-19 during the last quarter of the fiscal.
On 9 November 2018, the airline posted a net profit of ₹262 crore (US$35 million), the third consecutive year that it reported a profit, and registering an operating profit for the previous five years.
As per the accounts placed and approved by the airline’s board of directors, Air India Express made a net profit of ₹296.7 crore (US$39 million) in FY 2016–17. The revenues increased by 14% recording a total revenue of ₹3,335 crore (US$440 million) Average daily aircraft utilization rose to 12.2 hours from 11.3 hours. The capacity offered by the airline went up by 33%; the fleet size progressively increased from 17 to 23 aircraft; and the number of passengers carried increased by 22%, to 3.42 million from 2.8 million in 2015–16.
On 3 September 2016 the company announced that it had earned a net profit for the first time since its inception. As per accounts placed and approved by the airline’s board of directors, the airline made a net profit of 3,616,800,000 ₹ or ₹361.68 crore (US$48 million) in FY 2015–16 against a loss of ₹ 61 crores (or 61,000,000) registered in FY 2014–15. In the FY 2015–16, the airline witnessed a passenger load factor of 82.3% against 81.4% in the previous year, while average daily aircraft utilization rose to 11.3 hours from 10.8 hours. The airline carried around 2.80 million passengers against 2.62 million carried in the previous year.
Privatization
On 8 October 2021, Air India, along with its low cost carrier Air India Express and fifty percent of AISATS, a ground handling company, were sold for ₹18,000 crore (US$2.5 billion) to Talace Private Limited, a Tata Sons’ SPV.
Awards and Recognition
Air India Express has been named the ‘Iconic Brand of India -2021’ by The Economic Times. The award was in recognition of its overall performance and efforts to ensure business continuity.
In 2021, Air India Express was adjudged as the ‘Best Workplace for Women’ by The Economic Times.
Destinations
Air India Express focuses on providing international flights from Tier II cities in India, to the Gulf and South East Asia. The airline flies to 33 destinations as of May 2019 with a primary hub located at Cochin International Airport in Kochi .
On the domestic front, the airline operates from the states of Kerala, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. In its international arena, the airline mainly connects Indian cities with Gulf countries and Singapore in the east.
- Codeshare agreements
- Air India
Fleet
Air India Express Boeing 737-800
As of 1 January 2022, the Air India Express fleet consists of the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-800 | 24 | — | 186 | |
| 189 | ||||
| Total | 24 | — | ||
Accidents and incidents
- On 22 May 2010, Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737–800 (registered VT-AXV) flying on the Dubai–Mangalore route, overshot runway 24 on landing at Mangalore Airport, killing 152 passengers and six crew members of the 166 people on board. The aircraft crashed into a wooded valley at the end of the runway and burst into flames. There were only eight survivors.
- On 9 July 2012, an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 skidded on landing, during heavy rain at Calicut International Airport . Aircraft’s landing gear impacted with runway beacons, breaking them. There were no casualties on board.
- On 12 October 2018, Air India Express Flight 611 was a Boeing 737-800 (registered VT-AYD) that suffered a tail strike on take off, before colliding with the localizer antenna and boundary wall of Tiruchirappalli International Airport. This resulted in severe structural damage to the undercarriage, landing gear, flight control surfaces and engine cowling. The crew continued to fly towards their destination in Dubai contrary to Boeing’s tail strike checklist, reassured by normal instrumentation. The company operations team requested the plane return to Mumbai whilst the plane was over the Arabian Sea. It landed uneventfully and was repaired at a substantial cost.
- On 7 August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344, a Boeing 737–800 (registered VT-AXH), went into an uncontrolled skid on the runway due to heavy rain, fell into a valley and broke into three pieces after overrunning the table-top runway at Calicut International Airport. 20 people on board were killed, including both pilots, and at least 112 were injured.