The Hindu Business Line : Air India Express expands network

The state-owned low-cost airline, Air India Express, is expanding its operations. The airline announced that it would start a three times a week flight from both Lucknow and Jaipur to Dubai from October 28.

In the recent past, the airline, which offers fares that are 25 per cent less than those charged by full service airlines, has been expanding its route network. The airline recently launched flights from Kolkata to South-East Asia and plans to connect to more international destinations, officials said. Interestingly, low-cost airline SpiceJet has leased two of its aircraft to Air India to operate Haj charters. Airline officials told Business Line that the airline would operate two flights a day for about 75 days to transport people for Haj. The flights will be operated under the Air India flight code but would have a SpiceJet crew and colours.

SpiceJet has been mandated to operate flights from Lucknow, Varanasi and Jaipur to Jeddah. The airline currently does not meet the Government regulations for flying abroad. The airline will complete three years of operations next May and has a fleet of 16 aircraft at present. The Government has stipulated that an airline must have completed five years of domestic operations and have a fleet of 20 aircraft to be allowed to operate abroad.

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