New Delhi-AI Express to connect Amritsar, Mangalore to Dubai soon: CMD

Ashwini Phadnis - Business line

AIR India Express, the new low-cost airline being promoted by Air India, is to begin services from Mangalore and Amritsar to Dubai shortly, its Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Thulasidas, said.

"The Government has given us permission to operate more flights to Dubai. We plan to start operating soon from both Mangalore and Amritsar. Initially, the flight will not be a daily service. In the case of Mangalore, we are waiting for customs and other facilities to be available before starting the flight," Mr Thulasidas told Business Line.

The Government recently concluded an air services bilateral with Dubai that allows the designated airlines of the two countries to offer an additional 8,000 seats per week. Earlier, the airlines of the two countries were entitled to offer 10,400 seats per week in each direction.
Meanwhile, AI Express is awaiting permission from the Malaysian Government to start operating its own flights to Kuala Lumpur from Chennai. At present, the AI Express aircraft have been taken on wet lease by Air India to operate the service. "AI Express should get the permission within the next few weeks and then will be in a position to operate on the route with its own aircraft," said Mr Thulasidas.

AI Express, however, recently started operating a six-times-a-week service on the Chennai-Singapore sector.

AI Express took to the skies in April last year and operates a fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. In an effort to provide budget travel to the passenger, the aircraft offers seating in economy class only.