2 hrs ago
Air India Express Expands Winter Schedule, Chennai Routes Still Missing
Air India Express announced a bigger schedule of flights for the winter season, starting October 25.
It plans to increase its total services from 3,150 to 4,100.
Connecting flights will also increase.
The airline says it will add more than 40 routes.
Some announced routes include Chennai to Singapore and Bengaluru to Coimbatore.
But Chennai passengers were disappointed because flights to Dubai, Sri Lanka, Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur had not returned.
Those flights had stopped three months earlier.
The airline's chairman said it wants to improve connections while managing higher fuel costs and other challenges.
Air India Express's winter schedule begins October 25 and increases its services from 3,150 to 4,100.
Connecting flights will rise from 1,330 to 1,600, and the airline plans more than 40 new domestic and international routes.
The airline announced service resumptions on Bengaluru–Coimbatore, Chennai–Singapore and Bengaluru–Madurai routes.
Passengers from Chennai were disappointed that flights to Dubai, Sri Lanka, Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur had not resumed after stopping three months earlier.
Chairman Nipun Aggarwal said the airline aims to expand connectivity while pursuing disciplined growth amid elevated fuel costs and other operating challenges.
- Who
- Air India Express, its chairman Nipun Aggarwal, and passengers using Chennai airport.
- What
- The airline announced an expanded winter schedule, while several previously stopped routes from Chennai remained absent.
- Where
- The schedule covers domestic and international routes, including services involving Chennai and Bengaluru.
- When
- The schedule is set to begin October 25; the article identifies it as Winter Schedule 2026.
- Why
- The airline said the expansion is intended to strengthen connectivity and support trade, tourism and economic development.
Passenger concerns
Airline's position
Chennai connectivity
Passenger concerns
Chennai passengers were disappointed that flights to Dubai, Sri Lanka, Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur had not resumed.
Airline's position
Air India Express highlighted network expansion and announced a Chennai–Singapore service resumption, but the article does not report a specific airline response to the missing routes.
Schedule expansion and operating pressures
Passenger concerns
The article reports passenger disappointment over missing Chennai routes despite the broader schedule announcement.
Airline's position
The airline said it would add services and routes while remaining committed to disciplined, sustainable growth despite elevated fuel costs and broader operating challenges.
Key facts
- Schedule start
- October 25
- Schedule season
- Winter 2026
- Total services
- Increasing from 3,150 to 4,100
- Connecting flights
- Increasing from 1,330 to 1,600
- Planned new routes
- More than 40 across domestic and international markets
- Announced resumptions
- Bengaluru–Coimbatore, Chennai–Singapore and Bengaluru–Madurai
- Chennai routes not resumed
- Dubai, Sri Lanka, Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur
Quotes
Nipun Aggarwal
Chairman of Air India Express
“The scale of our Winter Schedule 2026 reflects both our confidence in India’s growth story and the increasing importance of air connectivity in supporting trade, tourism, and economic development”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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