Air India Express To Shut Down Business Class Seats, Convert Fleet To Economy-Only Airlines

Mumbai: In a strategic move to focus on efficient operations of its narrow-body fleet, Air India Express will reconfigure its aircraft fleet starting April 2025, removing business class seats and operating as an economy-only airline.

The airline, which merged with AIX Connect (previously AirAsia India) on October 1, aims to cater to budget-conscious travelers by streamlining its operations. With this transition, the carrier plans to strengthen connections between Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and major metro hubs, while also expanding to new international destinations.

Currently, Air India Express operates a network-optimized fleet of 90 aircraft, including more than 30 dual-class planes. The airline has taken on 35 white-tail Boeing 737-8 planes and plans to increase this number to 50 in the near future. White-tail aircraft are those originally manufactured for a different airline and later acquired by another.

According to Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, this reconfiguration is part of Tata Group’s larger consolidation strategy, which includes the upcoming merger of Vistara with Air India on November 12.

The fleet reconfiguration will align with Tata Group's broader strategy, which aims to make India a major player in the global aviation industry. The group has placed a massive order for 470 new aircraft, including 400 narrow-body planes, to support its expansive vision for India's aviation future.

With this growing fleet, Air India Express plans to expand its international connections to regions like the Gulf, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, with the potential expansion to South Asia and the Far East within a few years.