Tag Archives: Air Asia India

Air India Express unveils vision ahead of merger

Air India Express unveiled the vision for the organisation that would be formed with the merger and integration with AIX Connect, currently operating as AirAsia India. The airline also charted the path forward, building on the key milestones already achieved as part of the Air India Group’s ongoing 5-year transformation journey, Vihaan.AI.

The vision and key differentiators build on the shared brand purpose of Air India and Air India Express, ‘to transform a national institution into national inspiration’. Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express and AIX Connect, articulated the airline’s Vision ‘to inspire new possibilities and make meaningful connections with unmatched warmth’ in a town hall to employees of both airlines, elaborating on the focus areas of integration, growth and transformation, the inflection point that the airline is on, and the aspirations and ambitions for growth.

Talking about the vision, differentiators and path ahead, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express and AIX Connect, said, “Our resolute vision encapsulates our key differentiators – making meaningful connections, delivering unique experiences and providing best-in-class value with Indian warmth. Our ambitions will ride upon our huge fleet and network expansion, in the domestic India market as well as short-haul international region – Unlocking synergies with the merger of the two entities, and network integration with Air India; Growth and expansion, for a meaningful market presence as well as cost-efficiencies; and achieving excellence in all areas, becoming a preferred brand for a confident new India.”

The differentiators detail the airline’s business model and brand promise in the run up to the brand launch of Air India Express, expected to be unveiled within the next couple of months:

Meaningful Connections: Nurture ‘meaningful connections’ that transcend borders, bringing people, communities, and cultures closer together, to embody the spirit and diversity of India, making every journey a delightful and memorable travel experience.

Unique Experiences: Curate and deliver ‘unique experiences’ with unmatched Indian warmth, leveraging technology to make journeys frictionless and personalised. The product offerings and service experience will embody the warmth of Indian hospitality, with services like Gourmair, the airline’s award-winning in-flight dining brand, curated to cater to diverse culinary preferences with a wide range of regional and healthy hot meals and lite bites.

Best-in-Class Value: The pursuit of ‘best-in-class’ value goes beyond the fundamentals of cost and business model, offering customisable and relevant services for each guest and journey, based on their preferences and aptitude, while retaining consistent and reliable operational efficiency.

Specific projects have been identified to achieve these aspirations, focussing on enhancing the guest experience, optimising the network for market dominance, streamlining operations with a digital-first approach, fostering talent with an innovative and winning culture, and creating value for all stakeholders through sustainable practices, transparent decision-making, and prudent governance.

AirAsia India launches Flash Sale with 19% off domestic flights

AIX Connect (operating as AirAsia India), announced the launch of a flash sale with 19% off domestic flights. The offer is applicable on bookings made till 7 August 2023 on its unified website with Air India Express, www.airindiaexpress.com. Members of the Tata NeuPass Rewards Program also earn up to 8% NeuCoins in addition to exclusive member benefits on the airline website and the Tata Neu app.

The sale coincides with the airline’s annual celebrations of the birth anniversary of ‘The Pioneer’ JRD Tata, commemorating with a series of on-ground, in-flight and digital activities honouring the father of Indian Civil Aviation.

Both Air India Express and AirAsia India will be distributing themed postcards at airports and in-flight. Flyers are invited to pen messages to their loved ones and the airline has offered to deliver these postcards on behalf of their guests, commemorating the airmail carried by JRD Tata on his historic inaugural flight from Karachi to Mumbai in 1932. The design of the postcards pays tribute to JRD Tata’s passion for writing, as he famously wrote over 40,000 letters during his lifetime. The postcard features an image from the Tata Central Archives, depicting JRD Tata at his writing desk and showcases the custom font ‘Jeh’, inspired by his handwriting.

JRD Tata holds a significant place in India’s aviation history, having personally piloted the country’s first commercial flight from Karachi to Bombay via Ahmedabad on 15 October 1932 on a single-engine Puss Moth aircraft. This monumental event and the advent of civil aviation in India is also commemorated on the livery of the airline’s aircraft, VT-JRT, dubbed ‘The Pioneer’.

JRD Tata was also a culinary connoisseur and his love of experimenting with flavours, inspired the ‘Pioneer’s Picks’ section of the award winning in-flight dining menu ‘Gourmair’, now served on both domestic and international flights of Air India Express and AirAsia India. One of the highlights of the Gourmair menu is the ‘Herb Grilled Fish Fillet,’ a scrumptious dish featuring smoky grilled fish fillet with a unique twist on the classic French velouté sauce. It is served alongside creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed greens, making it a perfect pre-booked meal choice for seafood enthusiasts.

Air India Express and AIX Connect have migrated to a unified customer interface airindiaexpress.com. The airlines have shifted to a common social media handle (airindiax) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. The advanced AI-powered chatbot, Tia, delivers seamless 24/7 customer support for both airlines on a common WhatsApp number, Facebook Messenger, and the website. AIX Connect recently announced its plan to operate with the Air India Express brand by the end of the year in anticipation of the upcoming merger of both airlines.

AirAsia India announces Flash Sale with fares starting from INR 1,399

AirAsia India announces Flash Sale with fares starting at INR 1,399 for routes like Delhi-Jaipur, in addition to similar discounted sale fares across its network. The offer is applicable for bookings made till 19th January 2023 for travel between 4th February 2023 to 30th September 2023.

The airline extended the offer for bookings made on its website www.airasia.co.in, mobile app and other major booking channels. As part of ongoing loyalty benefits, NeuPass members booking through Tata Neu and on the airline website and app can book fares starting at INR 1,295 and also earn up to 8% NeuCoins on the base fare and add-ons.

The Flash sale encourages people to discover the beauty of India’s most captivating destinations with AirAsia India. With over 50 direct and 100 connecting flights to 19 destinations, the airline caters to both business and leisure travelers alike at affordable prices, making it convenient to plan their next adventure. From the sun-kissed beaches of Goa to the breathtaking mountain views of Srinagar, and from the lush landscapes of the North-East to the tranquil backwaters of Kochi, the airline offers a selection of popular and off-beat destinations to discover the magic of India.

The airline recently announced the expansion of its network to the city of Surat, Gujarat with operations commencing on March 3rd, 2023. The addition of Surat to its network will enable direct flights to key destinations such as Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata, as well as convenient one-stop itineraries to other destinations on its network, including Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Guwahati, Goa, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Bagdogra, Lucknow, Chennai, Jaipur, Visakhapatnam and Srinagar. This expansion is in line with the airline’s ongoing commitment to delivering seamless connectivity and service to its guests and patrons.

Air Asia India to merge with Air India Express, merger likely by end of 2023

Air India announced that it has signed agreements to complete the acquisition of 100% shareholding in AirAsia India (AAI) and to subsidiarize it under Air India.

In this direction, an operational review process is underway with a view to ultimately integrating AAI fully with Air India Express (AIXL). Consolidation of these two airlines, both of which operate as low-cost carriers, will be undertaken as part of the restructuring roadmap that is being envisioned for the Tata group’s airline business and is expected to bring customer, revenue, cost and operational benefits through broader adoption of each airlines’ best practices, systems and routes, and the combined entity’s greater scale.

A working group has been formed to evaluate and execute the integration of the AI Group’s low-cost operations, which will be co-led by Sunil Bhaskaran, CEO & MD, AirAsia India and Aloke Singh, CEO, Air India Express. The working group will report to a committee chaired by Air India MD & CEO, Campbell Wilson.

The assessment and implementation of full integration process of AAI and AIXL, through a possible scheme of merger or otherwise and subject to necessary corporate approvals, is expected to take approximately 12 months, with network and other synergies to be realised progressively during that period.

Commenting on the development, Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said, “We are excited to initiate the creation of a single Air India Group low-cost carrier. This is a key step in the rationalisation and transformation of the Group, and we will be working closely with the management teams and staff throughout the process. We also look forward to the many new opportunities a stronger AI Group low-cost carrier will bring for customers and staff alike.”

AirAsia India commemorates the 90th anniversary of JRD Tata’s first commercial flight

AirAsia India is celebrating the 90th anniversary of JRD Tata’s first commercial flight by hosting a series of digital, on ground, and in-flight engagement activities. An ardent aviator, JRD Tata was the longest-serving chairman of the Tata group and is regarded as the father of civil aviation in India. In addition to being a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, he was also conferred the rank of honorary Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

JRD Tata piloted the inaugural flight of Tata Air Services, from Karachi to Bombay via Ahmedabad on 15th October 1932, in a single-engine de Havilland Puss Moth, paving the path for civil aviation in India. The inaugural flight is commemorated in the livery commissioned by AirAsia India on its aircraft VT-JRT, dubbed “The Pioneer”.

AirAsia India announced the engagement activities through its social media handles, including the ‘#SpotThePioneer’ contest. Participants stand a chance to win a free flight by sharing original photos of ‘The Pioneer’ aircraft on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, tagging @AirAsiaIndia, and using the hashtag #SpotThePioneer.

The airline is giving themed postcards to flyers, inviting them to write to their loved ones and undertaking to mail the postcards on behalf of its guests, commemorating the airmail carried by JRD Tata on the inaugural flight. The postcard design pays tribute to JRD’s love for writing (he wrote over 40,000 letter in his lifetime), with an image from the Tata Central Archives of JRD at his writing desk and features the 90th anniversary logo and the custom font “Jeh”, inspired by his flourishing handwriting.

Guests can also win exclusive merchandise by solving themed ‘Journey of Jeh’ crossword puzzles, using the hashtag #FlyLikeAPioneer and tagging @AirAsiaIndia. To mark the 90th anniversary of the pioneering flight, boarding passes issued on the anniversary also feature the 90th anniversary logo and ‘Jeh’ font while pilots will be paying tribute through announcements to the first licensed commercial pilot in India and the man who gave wings to the nation.

AirAsia India launches new in-flight menu

AirAsia India unveiled its new in-flight menu consisting of 21 regional and international dishes. “Guests can pre-book their ‘Gourmair’ meals on airasia.co.in, the AirAsia India mobile apps or with preferred travel partners, up to 12 hours before their flight,” the airline said in a statement.

Gourmair is the name of the new in-flight dining brand and menu of the airline. AirAsia India said its new menu features signature exclusives like a marinated herb grilled fish fillet with French velout sauce, served with creamy mashed potato and sauted vegetables.

The menu has an all-day breakfast section that has dishes like cheddar and chives omelette with potato rosti, braised baked beans and hara bhara kebab, the statement said. The airline said its menu has a ‘MasterChef Specials’ section too that has been exclusively curated by MasterChef Kirti Bhoutika.

This section features an innovative vegan moilee curry, a unique take on the famous Kerala-style moilee curry prepared with tofu, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini, served with raw mango and coconut rice, the statement said. (Source FE)