Air India Express, the low-cost arm of the Tata-owned aviation giant, has unveiled plans to induct 20 to 24 new aircraft into its fleet in calendar year 2026, Managing Director Aloke Singh announced Tuesday. Speaking at an event showcasing the airline’s first retrofitted aircraft, Singh cautioned that deliveries hinge on Boeing’s production line and global supply chain stability. The carrier currently operates 110 narrow-body jets, including Airbus A320/321s and Boeing 737s and 737 MAX.

The airline is aggressively rebalancing its network, with domestic routes now growing faster than short-haul international. Two years ago, 60% of capacity was international; today, it’s an even 50-50 split. “Domestic will continue outpacing international growth,” Singh declared, emphasizing a “depth before spread” strategy—securing at least one-third market share on key city pairs before expanding further.

Eighty percent of Air India Express’s domestic capacity targets metro-to-tier-2/3 connections—India’s fastest-growing segment. While flagship Air India dominates metro-to-metro business corridors and long-haul international, Express is laser-focused on leisure travelers, SMEs, value-conscious flyers, and regional cross-border markets. “We’re building depth in the BFR (best fare revenue) and non-metro leisure space,” Singh said.

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This expansion aligns with India’s booming regional aviation demand, fueled by rising disposable incomes in smaller cities. With new aircraft and a sharpened route strategy, Air India Express aims to dominate the metro-to-heartland connectivity wave, positioning itself as the go-to carrier for affordable, high-frequency flights beyond the big six metros.

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