The domestic carrier, Akasa Air has announced the addition of Srinagar as the 20th destination to its expanding network.
Starting March 1 2024, the airline will operate daily flights between Mumbai and Srinagar catering to the growing air travel demand between these two cities. This expansion is a significant milestone for the airline as it marks the entry into the state of Jammu and Kashmir, strengthening its domestic presence in the northern part of the country. Travellers can book flights starting February 2, 2024, on Akasa Air’s website, Android and iOS app or through multiple leading OTAs.
Srinagar has witnessed a consistent increase in travel demand over the past years. The launch of operations on the route will cater to a blend of business and leisure travellers and will bolster connectivity, trade, and tourism in the region.
With this launch, Akasa Air seamlessly connects Mumbai to 13 cities across India. “Known for its picturesque mountains and enchanting valleys, Srinagar has witnessed an uptick in domestic and international tourism and our flight launch will further boost economic activity in the region. Akasa Air is in growth mode and has achieved a milestone of adding 20 destinations to our network in just 17 months of operations, becoming the fastest-growing airline in the history of Indian aviation,” stated Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air.
The airline’s first flight will deploy its fleet of Bombardier CRJ200ER aircraft for services on this new route. Zooom’s Chief Executive Officer Atul Gambhir stated that the airline will also persist in its support role, promoting the UDAN scheme, by launching additional services focused on the regional connectivity routes.
Commenting on the launch, Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience officer, Akasa Air said, “We are super excited to bring the Akasa experience to Srinagar, a city with immense tourism and commercial significance as we expand and strengthen our footprint across the country. Since inception, our industry-leading and customer friendly products and services such as Pets on Akasa and the popular Café Akasa menu backed by our signature Akasa experience have made a positive impact while creating a warm, friendly and inclusive travel experience. As we rapidly expand our network, we look forward to hosting an increasing number of travellers and providing them with a memorable experience.” Akasa Air has introduced multiple quality products and differentiated services to ensure inclusive, warm and comfortable flying experience. The brand-new aircraft provide ample legroom and high comfort and come with USB ports in a majority of aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their gadgets and devices on the go. There are other notable services like Cafe Akasa and Pets on Akasa.
In addition, Akasa Air has introduced its safety instruction card and onboard menu card in Braille for persons with visual impairment.
Since its launch in August 2022, Akasa Air has served over 6.3 million passengers and connects with 20 cities across India, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, Ayodhya, Gwalior, and Srinagar.
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Tata Group-owned Air India is set to make significant strides in its operations, both by expanding its route network and forming a crucial interline partnership with Alaska Airlines. These moves are poised to bring enhanced connectivity and convenience for travellers.
The airline has announced its ambitious plan to increase its weekly flights significantly by adding over 400 flights to both domestic and international routes by March 2024. With more than 200 weekly flights planned for Indian cities such as Mumbai and Delhi, Air India is committed to strengthening its domestic network.
On the international front, over 80 weekly flights have already been added as part of this expansion effort. Additionally, the airline is preparing to unveil four new international destinations in the coming months.
To kickstart this expansion, Air India has already boosted weekly flight frequencies on eight international routes, touching key destinations in Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe. This includes routes such as Mumbai-Singapore, Delhi-Bangkok, Delhi-Dhaka, and many more.
In line with these expansion plans, Air India expects to induct more than 30 widebody and narrowbody aircraft into its fleet by March 2024, featuring A350s, B777s, and A320neos.
Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India, said, “While modernising our fleet and introducing
new products and services is a top priority in Air India’s ongoing transformation journey, we are
equally focused on densifying and expanding our route network to capture the rapidly growing
demand in the market. The next few months are exciting for Air India and our guests, indeed.”
The non-stop service will operate three times a week, providing a convenient and efficient connection between the vibrant city of Mumbai and the cultural hub of Melbourne. Air India is the exclusive non-stop operator connecting these two cities, offering a streamlined travel experience for passengers. The introduction of the Mumbai-Melbourne route presents an annual increase of nearly 40,000 available seats into the Australian state of Victoria.
Interline partnership with Alaska Airlines
Simultaneously, Air India has entered into a strategic interline partnership with Alaska Airlines, strengthening its international reach with connections to and from 32 destinations in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The scope of this agreement encompasses bilateral interlining, allowing both airlines to sell tickets on each other’s networks, and a Special Prorate Agreement enabling ‘through fares’ on Alaska Airlines routes. Moreover, passengers can enjoy Air India’s free baggage allowance on Alaska Airlines flights.Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer at Air India, expressed, “The tie-up with Alaska Air will expand our international footprint in the US and Canada and even extend our reach to Mexico, boosting our network expansion plans. It will help us offer more choice to our guests and mark a significant step forward in our mission to enhance connectivity.”
Air India currently operates 47 non-stop flights every week from Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai to five American cities, with 14 non-stop flights weekly from Delhi to Canadian cities, Toronto, and Vancouver.
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Air India Express and AirAsia India, both subsidiaries of the Tata-owned Air India, unveiled a common, refreshed branding as a ‘Air India Express’, on a new Boeing 737 –8 aircraft.
With a modern look and bold, bright colours and aircraft livery, the airline invited guests to “Fly As You Are,” announcing its intention to differentiate itself with a by making meaningful connections across places, people and cultures, curating frictionless and digitally enabled travel experiences to provide best-in-class value, and offering service with a sense of unique Indian warmth.
The airline’s transformation was announced at a launch event in Mumbai where Campbell Wilson, Chairman, Air India Express, and Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express shared vision behind the rebranding alongside network expansion plans going forward. They also launched airline’s new logo and fresh livery on Air India Express’ first brand-new Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
On the occasion, Wilson stated, “With the merger of Air India Express and AirAsia India in its final stages, we are witnessing a transformation in the aviation landscape. We are proud to introduce the new brand of Air India Express, a pivotal part of the new Air India Group. Our mission is to provide the best value, accessibility, and domestic and regional connectivity to every Indian and become the airline of a new generation, connecting India and Indians to each other and the world.”
The brand’s visual identity is energized with a premium color palette comprising Express Orange, Express Turquoise, Express Tangerine, and Express Ice Blue. The Express Orange embodies the airline’s enthusiasm and agility, reflecting quintessential Indian warmth. Express Turquoise conveys style, a contemporary premium sensibility, and a digital-first approach.
Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, added, “The integrated Air India Express-AirAsia India entity will operate as Air India Express with a modern, refreshed branding, positioned as ‘New India’s Smart Connector’. This rebranding is a pivotal step in our ambitious growth and transformation journey. With the induction of modern, fuel-efficient Boeing 737-8 aircraft, we are poised to double our size, with 50 aircraft set to join our fleet in the next 15 months.”
Poland’s national carrier charts growth path until 2028 with a new corporate strategy. Alongside this substantial fleet expansion, the airline aims to see a remarkable surge in passenger numbers, projecting around a 70 per cent growth. This translates to an estimated 16.9 million passengers in 2028, compared to the expected 10.3 million for 2023.
“Over the course of the next 5 years, we aim to grow to a fleet of about 170 narrow-body aircraft, with a network spanning the domestic India and short-haul international markets,” he added.
The airline’s aircraft livery, inspired by the rich and diverse art and craft traditions of India, will feature a variable tailfin design themed as ‘The Patterns of India.’ This artistic representation of India’s heritage showcases designs inspired by traditional patterns such as Bandhani, Ajrakh, Patola, Kanjeevaram, Kalamkari, and more. Each design encapsulates India’s cultural and artistic diversity, reflecting the airline’s commitment to delivering aspirational travel experiences rooted in technology, accessibility, clever design, and unmistakable Indian hospitality.
In addition to the new brand identity, Air India Express introduced a unique sonic identity, a vibrant melody capturing the essence of New India brimming with aspirations, optimism, and confidence. The musical logo resonates with the emotions of Karuna, Adbutha, and Veera, extending a harmonious welcome to the sounds of the nation’s progress.
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