Air India Express targets leisure segment, revamps offering

The changes come close on heels of a marketing campaign and network tweaks resulting in stronger presence in Bengaluru

Air India Express is focusing on leisure and SME segments with new comfortable seats and revamped menus, Chief Executive Officer Aloke Singh said on Tuesday .

The airline unveiled its new product in a retrofitted Boeing 737 Max aircraft on Tuesday . Forty nine other planes will undergo a makeover into a 189 seat all economy configuration (from dual class ) by mid-2026. The new seats are light weight, have better cushioning and provide more leg room.

The changes come close on heels of a marketing campaign and network tweaks resulting in stronger presence in Bengaluru. 

“We are strengthening presence in Bengaluru offering way more connectivity than we offered before. Air India continues to focus on Delhi and Mumbai and of course there will be overlaps. The broad strategy at a group level is that the networks will be linked at these hubs and via the network to network code share agreement that we have with Air India,“ Singh said.

In April, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru accounted for about 62 per cent of the airline’s total domestic departures. By November, this share is projected to increase significantly to around 74 per cent reflecting the growing focus on hub-based operations. Four new destinations have been added from Bengaluru – Bangkok, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Riyadh in the winter schedule.

Air India Express has 110 aircraft now comprising of Airbus and Boeing planes. In 2026 the airline hopes to receive 20-24 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, Singh said. These are part of 190 aircraft ordered in 2023.

Published on October 28, 2025