MUMBAI- Starting from August 28, AirAsia India (I5) is set to initiate the first of its International flight to Sharjah (SHJ) on behalf of Air India Express (IX). This move follows AirAsia India’s recent commencement of codeshare flights for Air India (AI) earlier in the month.
As per schedules data provided by ch-aviation, beginning August 28, AirAsia India will deploy an Airbus A320neo aircraft on a daily rotation from Delhi (DEL) to Sharjah, Varanasi (VNS), Sharjah, and back to Delhi.
This flight will replace the existing Boeing 737-800 service operated by Air India Express.
AirAsia India International Flight
The development precedes the anticipated merger of the two low-cost carriers, which has been granted approval by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and is expected to be finalized in early 2024, reports Ch-aviation.
The Sharjah flights also mark AirAsia India’s inaugural international venture, as it currently operates exclusively within India.
Furthermore, AirAsia India has also commenced operating domestic codeshare flights for Air India starting from August 1.
Under this arrangement, selected flights between Bangalore International and Bhubaneswar, Mumbai International – Goa Dabolim, Delhi International – Lucknow, and Delhi International – Pune now carry Air India’s flight designator in collaboration with AirAsia India.
This closer collaboration is occurring within the context of Tata Sons’ efforts to streamline its aviation interests in India.
Apart from the ongoing merger between AirAsia India and Air India Express, Tata Sons is also planning to merge Vistara (UK) with Air India.
This proposed merger aims to create one major low-cost carrier and one significant full-service carrier within the Indian aviation landscape.
Merger Completed
AIX Connect, operating as AirAsia India and a subsidiary of Air India, revealed on July 27, 2023, that it has obtained regulatory approvals to rebrand its operations under the name ‘Air India Express.’ The integration efforts between the two airlines led to the regulatory green light.
According to the company’s press release, this development represents a significant milestone in fast-tracking integration efforts. Further, it includes the harmonization of customer touchpoints, products, and services across both airlines.
To improve the in-flight experience, Air India Express has successfully introduced AirAsia India’s popular ‘Gourmair’ in-flight dining menu. The menu features a wide range of delicious hot meals, lite bites, and desserts.
Furthermore, ‘Xpress Ahead’ priority services, previously exclusive to AirAsia India, have been extended to guests of both airlines. These services offer priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.
Additionally, both airlines plan to synergize a host of other ancillary add-on services and common sub-brands, further enhancing the overall travel experience for their passengers.
AIX Connect operates flights from 20 Indian cities to 14 regional international destinations. On the other hand, AIXC serves 19 domestic destinations, creating a complementary network that provides passengers with more extensive travel options.
With this rebranding and integration effort, AirAsia India’s operations will cease to exist independently. Still, the consolidation aims to create a unified and improved travel experience for passengers under the new banner of ‘Air India Express.’
Photos By: Harsh Tekriwal (@avgeekwithlens) • Instagram photos and videos
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