BENGALURU- As of April 2025, Air India Express (IX) has been expanding rapidly domestically. Air India Express has been transforming itself as a key player in India’s domestic aviation landscape, operating across 38 domestic destinations and connecting them with 54 destinations in 9 countries in total.
Air India Express is Known for its LCC model, and the airline offers low prices on the flights. The airline has leveraged its rapidly growing presence across key Indian metros. Among these, Bengaluru has emerged as the cornerstone of its domestic network, as Bengaluru is the airline’s largest Hub in the country.
Air India Express Top Routes
Bengaluru is the origin or destination for a majority of its top 10 busiest domestic routes. Let’s take a look at the top 10 routes based on weekly one-way seat capacity.
1. Guwahati – New Delhi
This busy northeastern corridor tops the list with six daily flights, making it the highest-capacity route for Air India Express domestically. Of these, four are operated using Airbus A320-200s and two using Boeing 737 MAX-8s, resulting in a combined 7,528 weekly one-way seats.
This route is crucial in connecting India’s capital city, Delhi, with the Northeast and is heavily used by both business and leisure travelers. Interestingly, the Bengaluru–Kochi route will be matching this capacity starting June 2025. Air India Express plans to increase its frequency to six daily flights on the Bengaluru – Kochi sector.
2. Srinagar – New Delhi
A vital link between the capital city and the crown of India. This route is served with six daily flights on all days except Sundays, when the airline operates four flights. This adds up to 40 weekly flights.
The operations are split between Airbus A320-200s/A320neos and Boeing 737 MAX-8s, offering 7,172 weekly one-way seats.
The route is especially important during the tourism season, facilitating massive footfall to and from the picturesque Kashmir Valley. This sector might also see fluctuations in operations based on the season.
3. Hyderabad – Bengaluru
At No.3 comes the very first South Indian city pair. With five daily flights, this high-frequency route connects two of South India’s busiest tech hubs. Three flights are operated using the A320-200 and two with the 737 MAX-8.
This results in a weekly one-way seat capacity of 6,244. The popularity of this route lies in its appeal to the booming IT sector and intercity weekend travelers, offering convenience and flexibility across the day.
4. Bengaluru – Kolkata
Air India Express operates four daily flights on this south – west corridor, with an additional fifth flight every Tuesday. The route sees a mix of A320-200s and B737 MAX-8s. The weekly one-way capacity reaches 5,198 seats. It connects the tech capital of India to the cultural heart of the East, catering to both business flyers and those visiting friends and family.
5. Bengaluru – Goa (Dabolim)
A favorite among tourists and leisure travelers, this route sees three daily flights using A320neos and one with the Boeing 737 MAX-8. This adds up to 5,138 weekly one-way seats. Whether for weekend beach getaways or business travel to Goa’s growing startup ecosystem, this route remains one of the most in-demand services from Bengaluru.
6. Bengaluru – Kochi
A strategically important south–south link, this route is currently served with four daily flights. Two are operated with A320neos, while the other two are a mix of A320-200s and B737 MAX-8s. The result is a weekly capacity of 5,110 seats.
However, from June 2025, Air India Express plans to increase this frequency to six daily flights, putting it on par with the Guwahati–Delhi corridor. This route is not only important for business travel but also for personal, medical, and religious tourism.
7. Delhi – Ranchi
The Delhi – Ranchi sector is served with four daily flights. The sector is served by two A320-200s, and the rest by a mix of A320-200s and B737 MAX-8s. The combined weekly one-way seat count is 5,054.
It plays a crucial role in connecting the capital city of India with Jharkhand’s administrative and industrial hub, offering vital connectivity for leisure and corporate traffic alike.
8. Lucknow – Bengaluru
One of the most traveled North – South connections in the network, this route sees 25 weekly flights by Air India Express. Two daily flights are operated using the A320-200, while the remaining 11 weekly flights use the Boeing 737 MAX-8.
Together, these flights provide 4,478 weekly one-way seats. The growing business synergy between Uttar Pradesh’s capital and Bengaluru’s IT scene continues to drive demand here.
9. Guwahati – Kolkata
Serving as a crucial Northeast–East India connection, this route sees three daily flights. Air India Express operates flights in this sector with a combination of two B737 MAX-8s and one A320neo. The weekly one-way seat count here is 3,766.
It acts as an essential feeder for travelers heading to smaller northeastern states or transiting via Kolkata for international travel.
10. Bengaluru – Varanasi
Completing the list is the Bengaluru – Varanasi route, which has three daily flights operated using a mix of A320-200 and A320neo aircraft. With 3,798 weekly one-way seats, this route sees consistent demand due to Varanasi’s religious significance and Bengaluru’s cosmopolitan appeal. It remains a vital connection for both spiritual and educational travel.
Fleet Variety Adds Flexibility
Air India Express’s domestic network is powered by a versatile fleet that includes Airbus A320-200s, A320neos, and Boeing 737 MAX-8s. The fleet of the airline has become diverse from traditional Boeing 737 aircraft. The merger of AirAsia India into Air India Express led to the first-ever Airbus airplane in the airline’s fleet.
Later, the parent company, Air India, decided to transfer most of the single-class airplanes to Air India Express. This variety enables the airline to dynamically adjust capacity based on route demand while also keeping fuel efficiency and operational costs in check. The Boeing 737 MAX-8s, in particular, bring in range and efficiency improvements that are ideal for medium-haul sectors like Bengaluru–Kolkata or Guwahati–New Delhi.
Bengaluru: The Beating Heart of Air India Express
The sheer number of top domestic routes connected to Bengaluru underlines its status as Air India Express’s largest hub. Not only is it geographically strategic, but it also serves as a gateway to both South India and Southeast Asia.
Air India Express operates close to 65 daily departures from Bengaluru and continues to expand operations. The airline continues to add new domestic and international flights from Bengaluru. The city’s Kempegowda International Airport will likely play an even more vital role in the airline’s future network plans.
Looking Ahead
As Indian air travel continues to bounce back stronger than ever, Air India Express seems well-poised to capture the lion’s share of the market with its focused expansion, efficient fleet, and strategic domestic network.
Air India Express’s dominance with high frequencies on some of the most high-demand routes — particularly those connecting major metros like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad — reflects a clear commitment to scale the connectivity.
With the addition of new routes, upgraded frequencies, and possibly even more fleet induction on the horizon, the top 10 list may look very different in the coming months and years. As of now, it’s a strong showcase of the airline’s growing footprint in domestic skies.
Featured and In-Article Images by Harsh Tekriwal | AvgeekwithLens | X
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