Air India Express set to induct 50 Boeing 737 MAX planes

Air India Express, which is in the process of merging AIX Connect with itself, plans to induct 50 new B737 MAX planes in the next 15 months as the Tata Group bolsters its aviation business.

Besides, the combined entity of Air India Express, also the country's first international budget carrier, and AIX Connect, formerly known as AirAsia India, will be launching its new brand on October 18. In a message to staff this week, Air India Express and AIX Connect Managing Director Aloke Singh said key milestones, including migration to a common reservations and check-in system, have been achieved in terms of integration of the two carriers.

Currently, the combined entity has a fleet of 56 aircraft, including 26 B737, 2 B737 MAX, 5 A320 neo and 23 A320. "Over the next 15 months, a total of 50 new B737 MAX aircraft will join the LCC fleet, allowing us to grow our network to new destinations and increase flights on existing routes," Singh said in the message.

According to him, the focus is now on the preparedness for deploying this capacity and that already, more than 800 aircrew and other operational personnel who have joined the entity are under various stages of training. Together, the combined entity operates around 2,700 flights every week. Out of them, about 700 are operated by Air India Express and the rest by AIX Connect.