Air India Express will see a drastic change as it is gearing up to become an all-economy airline by the second quarter of 2026. This move fits the vision of the low-cost carrier to provide simple, affordable air travel as demand increases in India’s aviation market. The switch to an all-economy cabin configuration is set to improve operating efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and increase passenger capacity.
Transition Fuelled By Increasing Demand And Aircraft Integration
The airline Managing Director, Aloke Singh, confirmed that Air India Express will remodel some Boeing 737-8 aircraft into single-class configurations by April 2026. These aircraft previously featured business and economy plus seats. Air India Express currently has a fleet of Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 737-8s, and Airbus A320s, with some of the aircraft offering business class and economy plus.
Out of the 41 Boeing 737-8s operated by the carrier, 36 feature eight business class seats, and two feature four business seats. Some of them have even added 18 economy plus seats. All these different seating configurations have made it difficult to provide a homogeneous travel experience.
The airline seeks to solve these challenges by converting these planes into an all-economy standard configuration. This move aims to meet rising budget travel demand and boost seating capacity to up to 186 seats.
Air India Express aims to expand its fleet in FY2026 by adding 15 new aircraft, including 11 factory-fresh jets and four previously operated by its parent company, Air India.
In the years to come, the carrier is likely to expand its fleet substantively, with an expected addition of 149 aircraft. This includes 50 Boeing 737-10s and 99 Boeing 737-8s aircraft.
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A New Era For Air India Express
The low-cost airline is targeting a 50% surge in passenger volume in FY2026, aiming to carry 30 million travellers, up from 20 million in FY2025. To accommodate this growth, Air India Express will also introduce the Airbus A321neo to its fleet starting April 15, with the first deployment on the Delhi to Goa Mopa route.
The all-economy move is a turning point in the history of Air India Express. By dropping business class, the airline is committing itself even more to being a no-frills, value-based airline. With more Indian travellers looking for cheap air travel, the step may improve competitiveness and customer loyalty in the ambitious aviation industry.
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It remains to be seen whether other hybrid carriers will follow this move. Air India Express’s all-economy shift marks a bold, forward-thinking move in India’s fast-evolving airline industry.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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First Published: April 08, 2025 2:52 PM