SPECIAL COLOURS - Air India Express / Boeing 737-8 MAX / VT-BWV

Created by artist @osheen.siva , The Flying Canvas reflects Tamil heritage, identity, and continuity through a powerful visual narrative.

Photo: Tushar Dua
 

SPECIAL LIVERY - AIR INDIA EXPRESS / B737-800W / VT-AXR -

Kozhikode Karipur International Airport - VOCL, India

Photo: Anshaj - FlyHighSpotter

VT-AXR features two aspects of life from the state of Kerala. The ancient martial art of Kalarippayattu, probably the oldest fighting form in existence, and the Chundan Vallam or Snake boats. These boats are anywhere from 100 to 138 ft in length. With the rear portion towering to a height of about 20 ft. and a long tapering front portion, it resembles a snake with its hood raised. Its hull is built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide

Air India Express to become all-economy airline by 2Q26

 

Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) is set to reconfigure the cabin of its two- and three-class aircraft to an all-economy layout by April 2026, managing director Aloke Singh said during a media briefing at the company's headquarters.

"Certain B737-8 aircraft will be reconfigured and converted into all economy," the news outlet Mint reported Singh as saying.

The aircraft in question were delivered as white tails originally earmarked for various Chinese airlines. Air India Express picked them up when they already had the cabins installed.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, thirty-six out of forty-one B737-8s operated by Air India Express feature eight business class seats, and a further two aircraft of the type are outfitted with four such seats. The aircraft also have varying economy class configurations, ranging from 150 to 186 seats. Thirteen of the aircraft also have 18 economy plus seats each.

Air India Express also operates two A320-200Ns with 12 business class seats each.

The airline expects to grow its passenger numbers by 50% in the 2026 fiscal year (to March 31, 2026), jumping from 20 million to 30 million.

The low-cost carrier plans to take delivery of 15 aircraft in FY2026, including 11 factory-new jets and four airframes previously used by parent company Air India. In total, the airline is expecting to add 149 aircraft in the coming years, fifty B737-10s and ninety-nine B737-8s, ch-aviation data reveals.

Air India Express currently operates 104 aircraft: twenty-four A320-200s, twelve A320-200Ns, twenty-six B737-800s, and forty-two B737-8s. The airline is set to introduce A321-200Ns to its fleet starting April 15, on the route between Delhi International-Goa Mopa.

CH Aviation

Photos: Air India Express

AIR INDIA EXPRESS: A Century in the Skies!

Our 100th aircraft, featuring Karnataka’s vibrant Chittara tail art, marks a new milestone in our incredible journey.

With our fleet nearly doubling since the integration and relaunch of Air India Express, we’ve been expanding at record speed, now connecting 54 destinations across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

With over 500 daily flights by the end of this month, we’re proudly bringing people, places, and cultures together like never before!

Air India Express

 

FLEET - Air India Express looks to double fleet by YE27

 Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) plans to add about 85 aircraft to its fleet over the next three years, including 65 new and 20 used aircraft transferred over from Air India (AI, Delhi International), according to the budget carrier's CEO Aloke Singh.

The airline currently operates 91 aircraft, including twenty-five A320-200s, five A320-200N, thirty-five B737-8, and twenty-six B737-800s, according to ch-aviation fleets data.

"We are planning to have a fleet of about 175 aircraft for Air India Express in about three years from now," Singh told journalists in Kolkata earlier this week. Aside from the aircraft transferring over from Air India, most of the growth will come from new B737 MAX types, with Air India Express having fifty B737-10s and 105 B737-8s on order.

The Tata Sons-owned carrier, which recently closed its merger with AIX Connect (Bengaluru International) (formerly AirAsia India), will use the extra aircraft to grow its footprint in domestic and international markets. It will deploy around half its capacity onto domestic routes, focusing on connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to major hubs.

"These routes form two-thirds of the market and are the fastest-growing segment," said Singh.

Singh fronted the media to report a INR1.17 billion rupee (USD13.8 million) loss for Air India Express for the 12 months to March 31, 2024. While year-on-year revenue rose 33% to INR76 billion (USD895 million) because of higher passenger volumes and improved operational capacity, expenses also rose 38.3% to INR77.63 billion (USD914 million) in the same period.

"The integration of AIX Connect will expedite our path to profitability by achieving significant scale, optimising costs, and better utilising our assets," said Singh. "The objective is to build a robust, scalable network that supports long-term growth."

CH Aviation

Air India Express fleet to grow despite Boeing delays

Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) will grow its fleet to 110 aircraft by March 31, 2025, CEO Aloke Singh has told the Moneycontrol news outlet. The aircraft, all A320-200s, will be supplied by Air India (AI, Delhi International). Both carriers are owned by conglomerate Tata Sons.
"As part of our fleet expansion, we will receive planes from Air India as there has been a slowdown in the deliveries of our Boeing aircraft," he said.
Air India has already handed over the first two A320s to its sister operator. Air India Express presently has 91 aircraft in its fleet, including twenty-five A320-200s, five A320-200Ns, thirty-five B737-8s, and twenty-six B737-800s. It also has 105 B737-8s and fifty B737-10s on order.

Recent industrial action at the aircraft manufacturer has further delayed the already-slowed B737 MAX deliveries to customers. While Singh did not say when the deliveries from Boeing will restart, he did say the Air India-supplied aircraft meant its fleet and network expansion plans would not be impacted.
Air India Express wants to grow its passenger traffic by over 50% within the next couple of years, relying on new routes, new destinations, and a bigger fleet to do so. The airline intends to fly to a total of 55 destinations by the end of March 2025, from 48 now. Apart from adding domestic routes, it will start flights to additional international airports.

Ch Aviation

Photo: Air India Express

AIRLINE - AirAsia India is merged into Air India Express

AirAsia was merged into Air India Express.

SPECIAL SCHEME - Air India Express celebrates Onam with grandeur in Kochi, displays Kasavu-inspired aircraft tail design By Kanchan Nath

Joining the grand Onam festivities in Kerala, Air India Express has unveiled a new Boeing 737-8 aircraft with tail art

The Kasavu design, a handwoven fabric unique to Kerala, is known for its distinctive off-white or cream color complemented by golden borders. Symbolizing purity, prosperity and auspiciousness, the fabric often features complex motifs such as Joral patterns, peacocks, elephants and geometric designs. Kasavu is traditionally used on auspicious occasions, especially festivals like Onam.

To mark this special occasion, Air India Express staff in Kochi welcomed the aircraft, registered as VT-BXM, dressed in traditional dhotis and Kasavu sarees.

TDM
 

SPECIAL COLORS - AIR INDIA EXPRESS / A320-200 / VT-APJ - special movie colors, Air Asia India titles have been removed for the merger with Air India Express

Konstantin von Wedelstaedt
 

NEW LIVERY - Air India Express unveils new brand identity and livery

Air India Express and AirAsia India, , have revealed a common branding as ‘Air India Express’ on a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The new branding features a colour palette of Express Orange and Express Turquoise, representing brand values like enthusiasm and agility, along with style, a contemporary premium sensibility, and a digital-first approach.
The new branding and refreshed livery mark the airline’s ambitious growth and transformation journey, with a plan to grow its fleet to about 170 narrow-body aircraft over the next five years, covering domestic and short-haul international markets.
The livery of the aircraft is inspired by traditional Indian textile designs, showcasing the country’s artistic diversity.
Air India Express operates over 300 flights daily across various domestic and international airports with a fleet of 58 aircraft.

Gulf news

Photos: Norris haobam

Imphal - VEIM, India
VT-BXA operating as flight IX783/784, DEL-GAU-IMF.

NEW LIVERY - Air India Express Reveals New Branding & First Boeing 737 MAX

Air India Express has unveiled its refreshed branding on its first Boeing 737 MAX, featuring bold colors and tail designs inspired by Indian arts and crafts.

The airline has named its color palette after itself, using Express Orange, Express Turquoise, Express Tangerine, and Express Ice Blue to symbolize its brand values and the warmth of India's people and culture.

Air India Express plans to double its fleet size in the next five years, with 50 aircraft set to be inducted over the next 15 months.

The merger of Air India Express with AirAsia India has taken another leap forward today, as the airline has unveiled its brand-new look, free from the confines of Air India's livery. The refreshed branding has been showcased on a milestone aircraft for the airline - its very first Boeing 737 MAX

The aircraft will feature varying tail designs, reflective of the arts and crafts heritage of India. This first MAX draws inspiration from the Bandhani textile design, but the airline notes that forthcoming aircraft will be inspired by other traditional patterns, including Ajrakh, Patola, Kanjeevaram, and Kalamkari. Campbell Wilson, Chairman of Air India Express, commented on the new livery, stating,

Air India ordered a total of 190 737 MAX in February this year, most of which will likely end up at AIX

Simple fly

 

NEW AIRCRAFT IN THE FLEET - Air India Express adds first A320neo

Air India Express (IX, Mumbai International) has inducted its first Airbus aircraft, namely an A320-200N transferred from merged low-cost carrier AirAsia India, as the Air India Group moves towards consolidating its four AOCs into two.

VT-ATJ (msn 10520), a 2.3-year-old jet owned by AerCap, operated its last revenue flight for AirAsia India on August 23, 2023, flying from Jaipur via Hyderabad International to Bangalore International. It was then ferried back to Hyderabad, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It then underwent maintenance and operated various test flights during September 2023, already under the Air India Express 'IX' code. It ran its first revenue flight for its new operator on October 4, flying from Bengaluru to Jaipur.

"This transfer will be progressively followed by all other aircraft so that, eventually, our two LCCs become one and we have full flexibility to deploy aircraft in the most optimal and efficient manner across our low-cost network," Air India Chief Executive Campbell Wilson said.

Air India Express has thus far operated Boeing aircraft exclusively. Its fleet comprises twenty-six B737-800s. The airline has already taken delivery of two B737-8s, but has yet to induct them into revenue service. In turn, AirAsia India operates twenty-five A320-200s and five A320-200Ns, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.

The merger of Air India Express and AirAsia India was approved in late July 2023. The two airlines will operate under the Air India Express brand before they become AIX Connect. The merger is expected to conclude by March 2024 and is the smaller of the two integration processes resulting from the acquisition of Air India by Tata Sons - the merger of Air India and Vistara has been okayed and is expected to close in 2024 at the earliest.

CH Aviation

AirAsia India to be merged into Air India Express

Due to Tata Group takeover of parent Air India, the Tata Group is consolidating its airline companies.
AirAsia India (now AIX Connect) soon will be merged into Air India Express.

AirAsia India was established on March 28, 2013 and became the first foreign airline to set up a subsidiary in India.
AirAsia India (AIX Connect) Airbus A320s will now be painted in the Air India Express livery.
Air India Express route map:

Tata wins bid for Air India

The Tata Group has won the bid for Air India and will fully take ownership of the airline and its subdsidiary Air India Express. The conglomerate also obtained 50% of ground handling company Air India SATS. Tata won the competition to buy Air India from SpiceJet-founder Singh who was also in the running.

Tata, which once owned Air India until 1932, is planning to transform Air India and Air India Express into a "world-class airline that will make every Indian proud". Currently, Air India has a fleet of 20 A319s, nine A320s, 27 A320neos, four B747-400s, three B777-200LRs, thirteen B777-300ERs and 27 B787-8s. Subsidiary Air India Express operates a fleet of 24 B737-800s.

The Tata Group is not new to the airline industry as it currently owns, together with Singapore Airlines, Vistara. This airline operates a fleet of five A320s, 31 A320neos, four A321neos, six B737-800s and two B787-9s.

Although not confirmed yet, it's expected that Tata will buy-out Singapore Airlines and merge Vistara with Air India.

AIR INDIA EXPRESS - B737-800W - VT-GHC

BRISNACE - Boeing