Air India completes Air India Express-AIX Connect merger, to form a larger low-cost carrier

The Air India group on Tuesday said that it has successfully completed the merger of two low-cost carriers, Air India Express Ltd. and AIX Connect Pvt Ltd (formerly Air Asia India) to form a larger low-cost carrier.

The statement said that the merged entity will be operational under the “Air India Express” name with a unified airline code ‘IX’.

The merged airline has a fleet of 88 planes, which is expected to cross 100 planes by the end of the financial year.

This Air India Express-AIX Connect merger is a part of Air India’s broader restructuring program Vihaan. AI, which aims at merging four of its airlines into two.

The group is also set to consolidate Vistara into the full-service carrier Air India by November 12 to set up a world-class global airline.

"Effective October 1, 2024, all aircraft of AIX Connect have been transferred seamlessly onto the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of AIX, ensuring that airline operations of the combined entity continue without disruption to ensure a safe and smooth passenger experience," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a release.

The DGCA said that this consolidation acts as a new benchmark for future airline mergers in the country.

“India’s rapid evolution into the world's third largest aviation market calls for a robust regulatory regime. Accomplishing this milestone given the complexities involved, is testimony to the efforts put in by teams from both the DGCA and the operator,” Vikram Dev Dutt, the Director General of DGCA said.

The consolidation process overseen by the DGCA, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and others involved standardising operational manuals, transferring aircrafts and obtaining approvals in regards to maintenance, safety and operations, Air India’s press release said.