Air India Express — Why AI Express Is the Dark Horse Winning India's Low-Cost International Market
By Diya Verma (Diya Verma flies from Tier-2 Indian cities and chases every possible fare hack — reposition flights, hidden-city ticketing, mileage runs and OTA bundle tricks. She has booked 200+ international trips out of Lucknow, Indore and Jaipur.) · Published · Last updated · 10 min read
While the airline industry talks about IndiGo's wide-body order and Air India's product overhaul, AI Express has quietly become the largest Indian LCC by international city pairs. Here is the structured account of the dark-horse winner.
The dark horse that was always there
Air India Express has been operating international LCC service from India since 2005, but for most of that history it sat in IndiGo's and SpiceJet's shadow as a smaller player focused mainly on Kerala-Gulf routes. The 2022 Tata acquisition of Air India and the subsequent merger with AirAsia India fundamentally changed the trajectory. By mid-2026, AI Express operates over 110 aircraft across the B737-800NG, B737 MAX 8 and inherited A320neo families, and serves more international city pairs from India than any other Indian carrier.
The change is recent enough that it has not fully registered with Indian travellers. Many still default to IndiGo or to a foreign Gulf carrier for international LCC routes, when in fact AI Express now has competitive frequencies on most key routes, often with newer metal and increasingly competitive fares. The shift from being a niche Kerala-Gulf carrier to being the most-spread Indian international LCC is the story this article unpacks.
The strategic context matters. Under Tata, AI Express is positioned as the LCC arm of a multi-brand aviation group that also includes mainline Air India (full-service long-haul) and the unified domestic operation. AI Express handles short-haul international and high-density domestic. The B737 MAX 8 fleet plan calls for crossing 200 aircraft by 2028, which would make AI Express one of the world's larger B737 LCC operators. The scale is significant.
Fleet — the B737 MAX 8 transformation
AI Express's fleet by mid-2026 is approximately 110 aircraft, with the mix transitioning from B737-800NG to B737 MAX 8. The MAX 8 deliveries have been accelerating through 2024 and 2025, with the legacy NG fleet gradually being returned to lessors or repositioned. The new MAX 8 metal carries the unified AI Express brand livery and consistent cabin configuration of 186 economy seats at 30-inch pitch, with the Recaro slimline seat product.
The cabin product is deliberately competitive. The legacy AI Express B737 product was variable — different vintages, different seat manufacturers, mixed interior conditions. The new MAX 8 cabin is consistent across the fleet — clean Sky Interior, working LED mood lighting, decent seat-back tray tables, USB-A charging at every seat. There is no IFE, in line with the LCC product, but the BYOD streaming entertainment over wifi-equipped MAX aircraft is rolling out through 2026.
The fleet plan is ambitious. Including the orders absorbed from the AirAsia India merger and direct new orders, AI Express has firmed roughly 190 B737 MAX 8 and B737 MAX 10 aircraft for delivery through 2028. The MAX 10, with its higher seat count and slightly longer range, fits the highest-density India-Gulf routes and selected Southeast Asia missions. The combined fleet of MAX 8 and MAX 10 gives AI Express the right gauge for both 180-seat short-haul missions and 230-seat high-density routes.
Network — the city pair count nobody else matches
By mid-2026, AI Express serves around 40 international destinations from India, with over 90 city pair combinations once you account for multiple Indian origins. The Gulf network is the deepest — every major Indian metro plus a dozen Tier-2 cities connect to multiple Gulf destinations through AI Express metal. Routes include the obvious metro-Gulf pairings plus Tier-2 launches like IXC-DXB, IDR-SHJ, VNS-DXB, CJB-AUH, COK-AUH, TRV-RUH and many more.
The Southeast Asia network has grown rapidly. AI Express operates BOM-DPS Bali, BLR-DPS, BLR-SIN, MAA-KUL, MAA-PEN Penang, multiple Phuket rotations from DEL, BOM, BLR and HYD, plus newer launches like BOM-PNH Phnom Penh and BLR-DAD Da Nang. The Phuket push has been particularly notable — AI Express has captured a leadership share of the India-Phuket market with daily and twice-daily rotations from multiple Indian cities.
Other geographies are smaller but growing. AI Express operates BOM-NRT Tokyo Narita evaluation (a long mission for a B737 MAX 8 but commercially interesting), several Central Asia evaluations through the A321neo inherited fleet, and the historical Maldives and Sri Lanka network. The Africa expansion through Mauritius and the broader Indian Ocean is on the medium-term roadmap. The total reach makes AI Express the most spread Indian LCC, ahead of even IndiGo by international destination count.
Fares — where AI Express wins on price
AI Express's fare positioning is consistently aggressive on Gulf routes. On directly competing pairs versus IndiGo, AI Express often clears 5 to 10 percent lower in shoulder season, particularly on the longer Gulf points like DOH, RUH and JED. Versus foreign Gulf LCCs (flydubai, Air Arabia), the comparison is more even, with AI Express typically matching or slightly undercutting on Indian origins.
The fare structure is genuine LCC. The headline base fare is low, with checked baggage, seat selection, meals and other extras as add-ons. The cheapest fare buckets may not include checked baggage on shorter Gulf routes, so reading the fare rules at booking is essential. Bundled fare options (Lite, Value, Plus) trade off a slightly higher headline against included baggage, seat and meal allowances, often offering modest savings versus a la carte.
Sale promotions are frequent. AI Express runs route-specific sales fairly aggressively, particularly to fill capacity on newly launched routes. Signing up for AI Express promotional emails or following the carrier's social channels gives early visibility into sale fares. For specific routes like Delhi to Dubai and Mumbai to Dubai, the AI Express fare is regularly competitive with the Gulf carriers and Indian competitors.
Product — what to expect on a 4 to 6 hour Gulf mission
The AI Express on-board product is straightforward LCC. Boarding is in zone groups, the cabin is single-class economy at 30-inch pitch, and the cabin crew provides safety briefing, security checks and BoB (buy-on-board) service. The Recaro slimline seat is adequate for a 4 to 6 hour mission — not premium, but acceptable. The seat pocket holds the safety card and a sick bag, with no IFE screen.
The BoB menu is reasonable — Indian and continental hot meal options, snacks, soft drinks and bottled water. Prices are LCC-standard. The catering quality is decent, with the meal sourced from major airline catering operations. For a 4 to 6 hour Gulf mission, eating before boarding and only buying a drink and snack on-board is the cost-conscious approach. The BYOD streaming entertainment over wifi-equipped aircraft is improving with more content added through 2026.
Cabin crew service is generally pleasant and Indian-speaking, which matters on Gulf routes where the passenger mix is predominantly Indian. The crew handles documentation requirements (visa checks, transit information) competently. For families with kids, AI Express crew is reasonably accommodating, though there are no dedicated family services beyond basic accommodation. Special meals can be requested at booking — Hindu vegetarian, Hindu non-vegetarian, Jain, child meals are all available with advance request.
Operational reliability and post-merger integration
Operational reliability post-merger has been a focus area for AI Express. The 2023-2024 integration of AirAsia India operations into AI Express created temporary reliability issues — different operating procedures, mixed crew rosters, IT system integration challenges. Through 2024 and 2025 these largely stabilised. By Q4 2025, on-time performance metrics had converged with the Indian carrier average, though there is still a gap to IndiGo's best-in-class numbers.
Cancellation rates have come down meaningfully from the integration trough. The MAX 8 fleet's high dispatch reliability helps, as does the unified Tata operations control centre that now manages both AI Express and mainline Air India. Crew availability has stabilised after the unified roster system was bedded down through 2025. The remaining operational weakness tends to be peak-hour metro slots and weather-related disruption at Tier-2 airports.
For booking purposes, AI Express in 2026 is a credible LCC choice with reasonable on-time performance and decent recovery handling for irregular operations. The Tata commitment to operational improvement is visible in the data. The carrier is not yet at IndiGo's reliability standard but the gap is narrowing. For time-sensitive bookings, building a 60 to 90 minute buffer for international connections is sensible, as it is for any Indian carrier.
The interline and code-share advantage
One material differentiator for AI Express is the integration with mainline Air India. Through-tickets booked on airindia.com or airindiaexpress.com can combine AI Express short-haul international with Air India long-haul international, with through-checked baggage and unified customer support. This is uniquely valuable for travellers in Tier-2 cities who want to connect onto Air India long-haul through a metro.
For example, a passenger from Visakhapatnam to Paris can book VTZ-BOM on AI Express connecting BOM-CDG on Air India as a single through-ticket. The bag is checked through to CDG, the boarding pass for BOM-CDG is issued at VTZ, and any irregular operations are handled as one journey. This is operationally simpler and risk-reduced compared to self-connecting separate tickets.
AI Express also has growing interline relationships with selected foreign carriers, though the depth is limited compared to mainline Air India's Star Alliance membership. The mileage credit story is consolidated — AI Express flights credit to Flying Returns. Status holders on Flying Returns receive priority on AI Express bookings, lounge access where applicable (limited on AI Express international) and expedited customer support.
The 2026-2028 outlook for AI Express
The trajectory for AI Express through 2026-2028 is structurally upward. Fleet deliveries continue at pace, network expansion continues on Gulf and Southeast Asia, and the operational metrics keep improving. The Tata commitment to AI Express as the LCC arm of the unified aviation group is clear, with continued investment in fleet, technology and operations.
Realistic 2026-2028 developments include: international destination count crossing 60 (additional Phuket, Bali, central Asia and East Africa launches); Tier-2 international launches deepening (more cities to Gulf, more cities to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur); fleet count crossing 150 aircraft; on-time performance converging with industry leaders; cabin product evolution potentially including premium-economy on selected high-yield routes; and deeper code-share integration with mainline Air India and partners.
For Indian travellers, the practical takeaway is to treat AI Express as a serious LCC option rather than a fallback. The fleet is competitive, the network is the deepest, the through-ticket option with mainline Air India is genuinely useful, and the fare positioning is aggressive. The carrier is currently the dark horse but the trajectory points to it becoming the most-flown Indian LCC for international travel within the 2026-2028 window. Read our companion piece on Air India's 470-aircraft order for the wider group context.
Frequently asked questions
Is Air India Express the same as Air India, or a separate airline?
AI Express is a separate operating brand within the Tata aviation group. It has its own AOC, fleet, crew and operations, but shares ownership and commercial integration with mainline Air India. For passengers, AI Express is an LCC product (single class, paid extras, narrow-body) while mainline Air India is full-service (multi-class, included meals, wide-body and narrow-body). Booking through-tickets across both brands works seamlessly through airindia.com or airindiaexpress.com.
Which Tier-2 Indian cities have the best AI Express international network?
Cochin (COK), Calicut (CCJ) and Trivandrum (TRV) have the deepest AI Express networks — multiple daily Gulf rotations across DXB, AUH, SHJ, DOH, RUH and JED. Lucknow (LKO), Indore (IDR), Vizag (VTZ) and Bhubaneswar (BBI) have growing networks with multiple Gulf destinations and one or two Southeast Asia rotations. The Tier-2 cities benefit most from AI Express because the alternative (a metro transit) adds time and cost.
Does AI Express have lounge access for premium fare or Flying Returns members?
Lounge access is limited on AI Express international flights. Flying Returns Platinum and Gold members can access partner lounges at major Indian airports but the AI Express experience does not include the dedicated lounge product of mainline Air India. International outstation lounges depend on the airport — DXB and AUH have partner lounges that elite members can access, but smaller Gulf airports may not. Always confirm specific airport coverage at booking.
Is the AI Express cabin product comparable to IndiGo and Akasa?
On the new B737 MAX 8 fleet, the product is broadly comparable — Recaro slimline seat at 30-inch pitch, BoB catering, no IFE, BYOD streaming on equipped aircraft. The legacy B737-800NG fleet is being retired but you may still encounter older cabin in 2026. Boarding process is similar to other LCCs. The main differentiator is the integration with mainline Air India for through-tickets, which neither IndiGo nor Akasa offers for long-haul.
Can I check baggage through from AI Express to a connecting Air India long-haul flight?
Yes, on through-tickets booked as single PNR through airindia.com or airindiaexpress.com. The baggage is checked through to your final international destination and you receive both boarding passes at origin. This is one of the genuine advantages of the AI Express plus Air India integration. On separate tickets booked independently, baggage must be collected and re-checked at the connection point, with the self-connect risk that implies.
How does AI Express compare to flydubai or Air Arabia on Gulf routes?
On price, AI Express is broadly comparable to flydubai and Air Arabia in shoulder season, sometimes slightly cheaper. On product, the cabin experience is similar — single-class LCC, paid extras. On schedule, the Gulf carriers often have more frequencies on their home routes (flydubai is everywhere from DXB), while AI Express has more Tier-2 Indian origin options. The crew and service style on AI Express is Indian-speaking and culturally familiar, which many Indian travellers prefer.
Does AI Express operate any wide-body aircraft?
No, AI Express is exclusively a narrow-body operator — B737-800NG (being retired), B737 MAX 8 (the dominant fleet) and B737 MAX 10 (on order). The wide-body international operation is handled by mainline Air India. Through-tickets connecting AI Express short-haul international with Air India wide-body long-haul are the common pattern for travellers from Tier-2 cities going to Europe or North America.
When AI Express launches new international routes, are they reliable from day one or should I wait?
AI Express has been operationally reliable on new launches in 2024 and 2025, with most new routes running on-schedule from launch week. The fleet is the same standard MAX 8 metal, the crew is the same training cadre, and the operations control is integrated. There is no specific reason to wait beyond the usual airline-launch caution. Booking from launch week is fine, with the standard advice of building a buffer for irregular operations recovery on any new route.